Kids, Play, and AI: How Telling Stories About Fun Can Reveal What They’re Learning Did you know that when kids are just having fun playing, they’re actually building important skills for life? Free play – that time when kids get to choose what they do, how they do it, and with whom, without grown-ups directing them – is a fundamental aspect of early childhood education. It’s super important for how they grow, supporting their thinking, social skills, feelings, and even their movement.