You don’t have to defend your parenting choices to anyone. AND, I know that lots of well-meaning grandparents, friends, and teachers might not undertand the importance of play the way you do. (To read the full article comment RESPOND and we will send you the post) Try one of these respectful but confident responses: 1. “Play is actually their most important developmental work right now - it builds problem-solving, creativity, and focus in ways structured activities often can’t.” 2. “We’ve found that giving them unstructured time leads to deeper learning and independence skills that serve them in all areas.” 3. “What looks like ‘just playing’ to us is actually them building neural connections that support everything from language to math to emotional regulation.” 4. “We’re being intentional about making sure they have planety of time to practice the valuable skill of self-directed play.” 5. “When we step back and trust their natural curiosity, they show us exactly what kind of learni...