Do U.S. Parents Underestimate the Power of Guided Play?

Where Fun Meets Learning in Every Parent’s Day

Play has always been part of childhood, but recent research shows it’s more than just fun and games — that’s how humans and even non-human mammals learn!

In a recent study, researchers explored how U.S. parents view different types of play, like free play, guided play, games, and direct instruction, in terms of their value for children’s learning. In other words, the study aimed to understand how parents see these types of activities when it comes to their children’s learning.

The findings reveal that while most parents see play as a powerful learning tool, many might be missing out on the unique advantages of guided play, a form of learning that blends freedom with adult-guided goals.

The authors thought that if they could better understand parents’ perspectives on the topic, they could help bridge the gap between their beliefs and the growing body of research on play’s educational impact.

Researchers led by Dr. Charlotte Wright from Temple University surveyed over 1,100 parents across the U.S., with children aged 2 to 12, aiming to understand which types of play parents believe are best for learning. Parents rated the value of each type of play — free play, guided play, games, and direct instruction — both when these categories were named and when they were simply described without labels.

Indeed, labels can sometimes have political connotations, while actual definitions do to a lesser extent and are more likely to showcase the surveyee’s real perspective.

The researchers also examined how factors like education, income, and knowledge of child development influenced these ratings. And well, parents’ attitudes revealed some surprising trends, especially when comparing play-based learning to direct instruction.

What did the authors find?

Regarding which method parents preferred, free play came out on top, followed by guided play, games, and direct instruction. Free play — when kids decide what to do without specific adult guidance — was rated by parents as most conducive to learning.

Dr. Wright shared that “U.S. parents understand that play can be more powerful for learning than direct instruction,” a finding that underscores how much play is valued. However, the researchers also found that parents tend to “attribute more learning value to free play” than guided play, even though guided play has shown greater potential to enhance learning in specific areas, like math and language skills.

You see, you want to give kids some freedom of choice, but you need to direct their attention to the lesson at play (pun intended).

Guided play sits in a sweet spot between free play and direct instruction. here’s how:

Imagine a child building a tower of blocks. In free play, the child would build independently. In guided play, however, a parent might gently encourage exploration by asking questions like, “What can we try to keep the tower from falling?”

This approach allows the child to lead the play, keeping things fun, while the parent provides hints that steer learning. Research shows that guided play helps children build skills they’ll need later, especially in subjects like science, technology, and literacy.

For instance, children who experience guided play tend to gain stronger problem-solving abilities and language skills than through free play alone.

Interestingly, the study found that parents’ preferences weren’t the same across the board. Higher-income and more educated parents were more likely to value free play, while parents with less education or lower incomes often leaned toward direct instruction.

What does this tell us?

These trends might suggest that certain groups of parents receive more exposure to research on the benefits of play while others may not yet have access to this information. Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, one of the study’s senior authors, emphasized the importance of “refining parents’ knowledge about the importance of play” so parents can recognize everyday activities like puzzles or park outings as valuable learning opportunities. It’s not just useless playing.

The study also revealed that some parents might see free play as less demanding, which makes sense, especially given the challenges many parents face in balancing busy lives. Guided play, on the other hand, requires more hands-on involvement, which can seem like a big commitment.

However, the benefits of this approach make it worth considering. Dr. Wright noted, “Recent research emphasizes that guided play is a more effective approach to support children’s learning,” especially for skills like reading, math, and flexible thinking. When parents engage in guided play, they’re not only enriching their children’s learning but also strengthening their bond by being part of the experience.

As a parent to young children, I can reassure you this is the case.

To bridge this knowledge gap, the study’s authors suggest making research on guided play more accessible. When parents understand how to incorporate guided play into daily routines, it becomes easier to foster learning while enjoying family time.

For example, the next time a child wants to play with blocks, a parent might take the opportunity to encourage them to think critically by saying, “Let’s see if we can build a bridge together,” and then support the child’s exploration without taking over. In this way, guided play becomes part of ordinary life, helping children grow in ways that feel natural and enjoyable.

Ultimately, the authors concluded that, while U.S. parents widely value play, there’s room to expand awareness around the benefits of guided play specifically. They believe that they can empower parents to support their children’s learning in more impactful ways if they find ways to integrate these practices into everyday parenting.

As Dr. Hirsh-Pasek pointed out, recognizing these “learning moments in everyday play” doesn’t just support children’s cognitive growth — it makes parenting more fun, too. I can attest this is the case!

With guided play, kids are free to explore, parents stay involved, and learning happens naturally along the way. Happy parents, happy children.