In this book I describe how children's play in the United States is drastically decreasing at home, in neighborhoods, and at school, and I present powerful examples of what can be done to counter this looming education and health crisis. Written from the perspective of a pre-kindergarten teacher and early-childhood professional with 18 years of experience in the field of education and drawing on extensive child development, urban planning, and epistemological theory and research, this book delivers a hopeful look at what is possible when we, as adults, truly listen to children and afford them opportunities to engage in child-directed play, a cornerstone of healthy child development.