Helping students stay “kid ready” throughout their learning journey?
“Students don’t need to be college ready in kindergarten. They need to be kid ready — ready to play, explore, imagine, and connect.” — Brad Johnson
This message goes beyond kindergarten. It is a reminder for all stages of learning.
In the early years, play is how children make sense of the world. It builds the foundations for focus, creativity, collaboration, and resilience — skills that no worksheet can replace.
But as students grow older, play shouldn’t disappear. It simply changes form.
In middle and secondary years, play can look like:
Inquiry projects and design challenges
Drama, role-play, and storytelling
Games that build problem-solving and teamwork
Creative risk-taking in science, writing, or the arts
When we preserve a spirit of play like curiosity, exploration, imagination, learning becomes more authentic, joyful, and lasting.
How do you integrate play and playful learning at different stages, from early years to adolescence?
Do you notice differences in how students respond to play as they get older?
What helps you keep curiosity alive in your classroom or school?
Share your ideas, examples, and reflections.
