The Play Lab

Teach Plus Illinois Applauds Passage of House Bill 4577 that Defines Play-Based Learning - Teach Plus - Leadership Opportunity Springfield, IL May 27, 2026—Teach Plus Illinois applauds the State Legislature for passing House Bill 4577. Authored by Teach Plus Policy Fellows, this legislation establishes a clear definition for play-based learning and protects the use of play in Illinois classrooms. “This critical legislat...

Thankful to Journalist Makiya Seminera and Chalkbeat Chicago for helping to positively shape the public narrative on play-based learning! Children of all ages deserve to find learning joyful and engaging. Their brains are wired for it and the research is available to back it up! As a play advocate, practitioner, and Doctoral Researcher, I truly appreciate you asking my perspective. There is so much work to be done, but this is a positive step in the right direction for Illinois!

I want to thank all the Play Advocates who tirelessly fight for children’s right to play in all aspects including daily play, recess, physical education, outdoors, in childcare and school. Play IS learning! Play is a Right!

The Play Lab The Play Lab Hub The Play Lab Family Centered Early Intervention International Play Association (IPA) International Play Association - USA Illinois AEYC Teach Plus Illinois Teach Plus McCormick Institute for Early Childhood Illinois Action for Children Governor JB Pritzker Juliana Stratton The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) National Louis University Chicago Underground Chicago Hip Hop Alliance Against Violence 1 Luv Back 2 School Jam Christ Lutheran Church, Chicago

Illinois will be one of the only states defining play-based learning. Does it help students? This educational approach may look like just fun and games to an outsider — and it partially is. But incorporating play in the classroom is harder than it looks.