Everyone talks about the benefits of playfulness for learning and development. But what do we do to become playful? What helps or hinders us on that road? And what is it like to stay on that road? If we can map out the path, including its obstacles and its benefits, it will be easier to…

We should pay extra attention to the home schooling and care of disadvantaged children during the Covid-19 crisis. Their potential loss of learning could require that some students repeat an entire grade. However, play with families, as well as government help with computer access, can help mitigate the damage. These students are at particular risk…

PARIS—Top-ranked player Novak Djokovic could be allowed to defend his French Open title under the latest COVID-19 rules adopted by the French government, even if he is still not vaccinated when the clay-court Grand Slam starts in May. Djokovic was deported from Australia and barred from playing in the Australian Open this month for not…

OAKLAND, Calif.—Android app makers suing to stop Alphabet Inc’s Google from siphoning up to 30 percent of their sales received little reassurance about their chances on Friday as a judge allowed a comparable fee charged by Apple Inc to stand. Developers including “Fortnite” maker Epic Games in the last year took aim at the two…

Recently, my daughter’s family came for a visit. One evening, the three younger grandkids, a girl and two boys, ages 8, 6, and 4, took turns running around the house while I sat on the porch and timed each race. In between these sprints, they climbed trees, the granddaughter danced and sang a song from…

When I was a kid, my parents let me play. I grew up homeschooled, so I had more time than other kids—the bulk of which was spent running wild. I did do schoolwork—I wasn’t unschooled. But the bulk of my memories from childhood are of playing: constructing forts in the woods, building Playmobil towns in the…