March 13 2024- Researchers conducted a survey of 1,172 parents across the US to gauge their views on the educational value of free play, guided play, and games for children. The results revealed that parents tend to view free play as the most educational, contrary to the emphasis on guided play by experts. This suggests a need for educating parents about the distinction between free and guided play in child development. Child psychologists have long recognized the importance of play for children’s cognitive development, but concerns arose in the 21st century about declining playtime quality and quantity for US children
