Why a Childhood of Play Is the Best Education

My education was helpful. But only to the extent that I’d been given the freedom to play with it.

Classes can be helpful, but the time and freedom to apply the knowledge they learn allow kids to delve deeper into their interests. ANURAK PONGPATIMET/Shutterstock

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.