*While we appreciate all support, please only sign if you live in Charlotte-Mecklenburg! *

As a former kindergarten teacher and future kindergarten parent, I see firsthand the vital role of play in early childhood development. My experience in the classroom taught me that when choice time was skipped, behaviors deteriorated, attention spans shortened, and motivation dwindled. It is well-documented that play is essential for children’s physical, emotional, and social development. Children learn problem-solving skills, creativity, and independence through play. 

#Kneedsplay is devoted to securing one hour of play-based daily choice time in CMS kindergarten classrooms. Some may ask: why now? Don’t we have other, more important priorities? Our answer: as the mental health crisis deepens amongst our youth,  our kids need play more than ever.  The research shows that play is essential for enhancing brain structure, alleviating toxic stress, and learning 21st century skills, such as problem solving, collaboration, and creativity, which are critical for adult success.

Our Goal 

Pilot a 1 hour play-based learning structure in a select number of CMS kindergarten classrooms across the district for the 2026-2027 school year. If successful, move to  onboard every kindergarten classroom in future years. 

Why It’s a Good Idea:

→ Play enhances academic learning and social skills: students who have access to play perform better in literacy and math. Additionally, play gives students an opportunity to learn lifelong social skills like cooperation, communication and problem-solving in real time. 

→ Play is an antidote to anxiety and depression: research has shown that play protects children from the negative impacts of prolonged exposure to stress.  Pretend play helps children explore challenging emotions like worry or sadness; creative play and art allow children to express feelings they can’t verbalize; and sensory play (sand, water, playdough) engages their senses, calming and regulating big emotions. As more children face adverse childhood experiences, we need play more than ever. 

→ Play is an equity issue: research shows that children growing up in poverty (46% of CMS students) have less access to play outside of school compared to their more affluent peers due to a lack of safe play areas in their neighborhoods and fewer resources at home. Knowing how powerful play is for improving children’s mental health, academic outcomes and general wellbeing we must close the play gap during our school day.  

When children are given time to play, the classroom environment becomes one of joy and discovery, not stress and compulsion. Our next door neighbors in Cabarrus County made this a reality!  Over the course of 4 years, they have brought back 1 hour of protected play into every kindergarten classroom. This is doable.

Please join me in calling on CMS to pilot a 1 hour play-based learning structure in a select number of CMS kindergarten classrooms across the district for the 2026-2027 school year. If successful, they should mandate that every kindergarten classroom provides one hour of play-based learning per day.

Follow us on Instagram @Kneedsplay. Check out our website: kneedsplay.org. Join our Facebook group! https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CFcSMgHwV/