76 Percent of Parents Say Educational Play is Best Way to Prep Kids for New School Year

New Genius of Play Survey: Parents More Thankful for Educational Toys Through Pandemic

August 18, 2020 | If you are worried your child will be below grade level this fall as a result of classroom time lost because of COVID-19, you are not alone. According to a new survey, commissioned by The Genius of Play and conducted by OnePoll, 65 percent of parents expressed concerns their child would be behind due to the disrupted 2019–2020 school year.

The survey found that children lost, on average, about eight weeks of classroom learning in the spring. And while most parents said their school district continued with distance learning for all or part of the remaining school year, the results revealed that many parents took matters into their own hands this summer:

• 76 percent said setting aside time for educational play was the best way to prepare their child for the upcoming school year.


• 70 percent are actively took steps to help their child prepare — through educational workbooks (47%), watching educational programming together each day (40%), virtual or in-person tutors (39%), and more.

Parents also expressed the importance of play in helping their child manage stress and create positive memories. Fifty-one percent of parents believe that this extended time for play together has been one of the positive changes resulting from COVID-19, and 74 percent said their child has used play as a way to cope with the pandemic.

The survey results also revealed:

• 75 percent of parents believe their child has had more time to play as a result of the pandemic.


• 68 percent of parents said their kids are getting tired of screens and gravitating toward traditional toys.


• 43 percent have become more thankful for and/or reliant on toys and play as an educational resource.

“While many parents remain both skeptical and concerned about the upcoming school year, this time of social isolation and distance learning has clearly demonstrated the value of play in kids’ daily lives,” said Anna Yudina, senior director of marketing initiatives at The Toy Association, which spearheads The Genius of Play. “Nearly half of parents surveyed said they have become more thankful for, and reliant on, toys and play as an educational resource as a result of the pandemic, and this is a trend we believe is here to stay.”

To help families keep playing and learning at home, The Genius of Play has launched a new “Play & Learn” page with activities to supplement classroom learning and expanded its collection of “Coloring & Activity Sheets.” To learn more, visit thegeniusofplay.org.