Participates will explore ideas for embracing child-led play in early learning environments. In this workshop we will define "play" and examine our own childhood experiences with play. Through this workshop we will study deeply engaged play experiences of children and examine where critical areas of development are present in play. In conclusion, we will open discussion as to how we can pursue the study of learning through play, and together we will look at ideas for how we as early childhood educators can collaborate on bringing play back into early childhood.