Educational Play Is Best School Prep for Kids During Pandemic

by Anna Yudina View Bio

Anna Yudina

Anna Yudina joined The Toy Association in February 2015 as the Director of Marketing Initiatives. Ms. Yudina is spearheading the Association’s parent-focused The Genius of Play™ movement to raise awareness of play as a crucial part of child development and encourage families to make time for play in their daily lives. Since its launch in June 2015, The Genius of Play has reached millions of parents and caregivers, providing research-based facts, expert advice, and a host of play activities through its website, social media channels, live events and various media. The initiative was nominated for the 2015 Shorty Awards in the non-profit category and won The Association Trends “All Media Contest” for its “Dear Parents” Public Service Announcement campaign.

Previously, Ms. Yudina was the Digital Marketing Manager at Sherwin-Williams, where she championed a category-leading social media program for Minwax®, the #1 brand of wood finishing products in North America. Additionally, Ms. Yudina has worked in product development and brand management roles that span across several consumer product categories including toys, beverages, household/DIY, and promotional products. She holds a Master of Business Administration Degree in Marketing from Baruch College and a Bachelor’s Degree in Literature and International Business from Ramapo College of New Jersey.

Are you worried your child will be below grade level this fall as a result of classroom time lost because of COVID-19? If so, you are not alone. According to a new survey, commissioned by The Genius of Play and conducted by OnePoll, 65% of parents are concerned their child will be behind due to the disrupted 2019–2020 school year. Read on to find out other key takeaways from the survey:

Playing to Learn

The survey found that most parents (70%) are taking action this summer to help prepare their child for the coming school year, with 76% reporting that educational play was the best way to prep. The results also highlighted the various ways that parents tried to keep their kids learning:

• 39% hired a tutor for the summer.
• 37% turned everyday activities into learning opportunities.
• 26% encouraged free play.
• 71% tried to find educational activities that did not seem educational.

Using Play to Manage Stress

Even with the growing concerns about school and education, children’s overall well-being and mental health remain central to parents.

• 79% of parents think it is especially important for their child to have time to play to help manage the stress and anxiety stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.
• 74% of parents said their child has used play to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Finding the Silver Lining

Most parents (51%) agree that more time to play together as a family has been one of the positive changes resulting from the pandemic. The survey also revealed shifts toward more play, less screen-time, and a greater reliance on toys.

• 75% of parents believe their child has had more time to play as a result of the pandemic.
• 68% of parents said their kids are getting tired of screens and gravitating to traditional toys.
• 58% of parents are using this summer as an opportunity to spend more time playing with their kids.
• 43% of parents have become more thankful for and/or reliant on toys and play as an educational resource.

While the future of the new school year remains uncertain, there are many resources parents can tap to keep both play and learning going at home! I invite you to visit The Genius of Play’s new “Play & Learn” page for play-based activities to supplement classroom time and check out new resources in our popular “Coloring & Activity Sheets” section.

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