Five simple ways families can make more room for play
By Dr Paul Ramchandani
LEGO Professor of Play at the University of Cambridge
Play is not a ‘nice-to-have’. It’s essential for children’s development. It helps them learn, make sense of the world around them and develop the skills they need to navigate it.
Unfortunately, it’s too often sidelined. As both an academic and a parent, I’ve seen how playtime usually happens once the important things – work, chores, housework, homework – are done. But play is one of the important things.
It’s been made unmistakably clear during my 30 years of research and something I reflect on as we mark the UN’s International Day of Play.
It’s also why the play gap identified in the LEGO Group’s new Play Well research matters so much:
- Four in five parents (82%) wish their child could play more.
- A third (30%) of 9 to 12 years olds say they just don’t have enough time to play.
Families still value play, more than ever according to the research. Yet the fast-paced nature of life today means behaviours are shifting:
- Parents say they now spend more time on digital devices than playing with their children – for work, socialising or simply relaxing.
- Almost two thirds say they used to play more when growing up than their child does now.
- Three quarters of parents worry the lack of play will have a significant impact on their child’s future – a failure to develop key skills, reach their creative potential and lack adaptability.
But family play can provide the perfect antidote to modern life. It gives children something increasingly rare: undivided attention, a sense of connection and the confidence that comes from being seen and heard. For parents, it brings joy and boosts wellbeing.
The encouraging truth is that playing more does not require an overhaul of family life.
One of the clearest lessons from years of research is that play does not have to be big or elaborate to matter. Even short snippets of play in the day have a lasting impact on family wellbeing.
So here are a few of my simple tips to help families find play on even the busiest of days:
- Think in minutes – play doesn’t need scheduling. Putting on silly voices for bedtime stories or a quick game at a bus stop take seconds, but it all adds up to a big impact.
- Let go of the need to “do it right” – there’s no script for play and that’s the point. When play feels free, spontaneous and joyful, children gain the most. What matters is shared enjoyment. If it makes you laugh (or even just smile), you’re doing it right.
- Take time to follow your child’s lead – children are the real experts in play. When they take the lead, they are building creativity, confidence and communication skills. Even if it does involve turning the sofa into a spaceship.
- Use the world around you as your playground – you don’t need new toys to make play valuable. Pavements can be hopscotch grids and car journeys can become storytelling sessions. Familiar environments help children feel confident enough to express themselves.
- Turn the everyday into the unexpected – play can come in many shapes and sizes. The most powerful play opportunities can come from the most mundane moments in life. Seize any small chance to play during your everyday routine.
About the International Day of Play
The UN International Day of Play was ratified in 2024 to protect children's fundamental right to play. The LEGO Group, a long-time advocate for the power of play, was one of the organisations that helped support the adoption of the day. The company marks the occasion with its World Play Day celebrations each year.
About the research
All data referenced is from the LEGO® Play Well Study 2026 with insights from a total of 45,000 respondents from across 30 markets between December 2025 and January 2026. Respondents included 30,000 parents with children aged 1-12 years old, and 15,000 children aged 5-12.
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