Reclaiming Childhood: Why Play Still Matters in the Fight for Democracy

Recently I wrote an article for BERA called ' The Early Years and Play: The Last Bastion for Democracy and we should always, when thinking about the child, be on the side of the child. In recent years, early childhood education in England has increasingly leaned into formality, governed by curriculum targets, school readiness checklists, and top-down policies. But in this climate, where outcomes are king and play is often sidelined, a powerful counter narrative is emerging. A narrative that champions the intrinsic value of play not just as a vehicle for learning, but as a radical act of democracy.

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In my article “The Early Years & Play: The Last Bastion for Democracy” draws our attention to how the erosion of child led, play and learning threatens more than just development, it chips away at children’s rights, agency, and freedom. This shift, accelerated by initiatives like Ofsted’s Bold Beginnings (2017), places an increasing emphasis on formalised instruction at the expense of creativity, curiosity, and connection. But alongside this, the Play Matters guide (2025) offers a hopeful and practical response. It’s a collective call to arms from across the early years sector, reminding us that play is not fluff. It’s not an afterthought. It is foundational.

Play as a Democratic Right

Play is where children make sense of their world, where they feel most themselves. It is how they explore, connect, test limits, and invent new possibilities. As I have written, placing children at the centre, honouring their agency through play, is an act of democratic pedagogy. It’s not just about preparing children for life but respecting their lives as they are now. Play Matters reinforces this by echoing the words of Friedrich Froebel: “Play is the highest expression of human development in childhood.” Children’s play is not simply about acquiring knowledge, it’s about being free to be. And that freedom is political.

The Science of Joy and the Power of Play

Play is also deeply neurological. As outlined in Play Matters, joyful, imaginative, child led play activates a vast network of brain connections, fuelling everything from cognitive growth to emotional regulation. Loose parts play, for example, creates what researchers call a “playground for the mind”, a space where children generate dopamine and serotonin, the brain’s feel-good chemicals, while simultaneously building problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

But here’s the kicker: joy and laughter, vital for wellbeing, are absent from current early years frameworks. Not once are they mentioned in the EYFS or Development Matters. Why? As Play Matters provocatively asks: when did joy become optional?

Play as a Practice of Nurture

Bradbury and Grimmer (2024) highlight the importance of love and nurture in early years settings. When play is prioritised, children feel seen, respected, and empowered. They are free to take risks, express emotions, and build secure relationships. This mirrors Play Matters’ emphasis on the role of the adult as a “curator of joy”, someone who listens, observes, and steps back to let children lead. Children will play whether we value it or not. But the environments we create—physically, emotionally, and pedagogically, shape whether their play is expansive or restricted, empowering or performative.

From Advocacy to Action

So, what now?

Both The Early Years & Play and Play Matters leave us with a challenge: to shift from rhetoric to responsibility. To reflect critically on our practices and ask hard questions. Are we placing play at the heart of our settings, or squeezing it in around adult agendas? Are we curating joy or controlling it?

It’s time to move away from narrow interpretations of education and toward a richer, more human one. One that honours play as a tool of freedom, a source of joy, and a spark for lifelong learning.

Because play isn’t just how children learn, it’s how they live. And that, truly, is worth fighting for.

Download your copy of Play Matters Here: https://www.early-years-reviews.com/play-matters