How to engage children? Disengage the adults

In children’s education, there’s typically a rigid distinction between learning and play. But the lines between the two aren’t so clear.

After all, play is a great way for children to discover their gifts and develop their passions — whether it’s art, science, or athletics.

Peter Gray is an evolutionary psychologist who has spent decades studying the role of play in human development. To Gray, the research is clear: When kids are allowed to play in the ways they want, they become much more enthusiastic and engaged in the activities they’re pursuing. Play is a natural form of education that helps people realize who they want to become.