From Evidence to Action: How Cities are Investing in Playful Learning Landscapes

Cities are now home to more than half of the world’s population and play a pivotal role in shaping the environments where young children and families thrive. To improve early childhood outcomes, cities are among the most important levers for change. Since 2019, the Center for Universal Education (CUE) at Brookings has worked with cities to advance policies that benefit young children and families, beginning with its Playful Learning Landscapes (PLL) initiative. PLL integrates playful learning into everyday spaces—bus stops, streets, parks, supermarkets, and more—transforming ordinary spaces into engaging learning opportunities. Grounded in evidence that much of children’s learning takes place outside traditional classrooms, the approach seeks to make better use of the time and place families already use.

On March 12, CUE will convene city leaders and researchers to discuss how research on PLL has been translated into action in two cities: Philadelphia and Santa Ana, California. Through a moderated conversation featuring research, implementation, and city leadership perspectives, the audience will gain practical insights into how cities can use evidence to shape policies and plans that create more playful urban environments—supporting young children’s development and strengthening family well-being.