Meeting Public Comments

Names and comments are public records. Remaining information is considered a confidential record.

Comments Submitted:

02-16-2026

Joseph Baldridge

I remember a poster that said "Everything I need to know I learned in Kindergarten" three things I remember being listed were Sharing, Playing fair & and Cleaning up your own mess. All things we want kids to learn early. These are also things every 5 or 6 year old learns from playing with their friends. Please require play based learning for kindergartens, none of us want to clean up their messes or hear them whine about it being their turn!

02-16-2026

Kelly McMahon [Iowa State Education Association-Early Childhood Task Force]

Thank you members of the House Education Subcommittee for taking the time to read and consider my comments. As a veteran educator for more 20 years of teaching at the early childhood level, I can tell you that the passage of House File 460 is greatly needed. Kindergarten has become developmentally inappropriate due to the instructional practices and daily schedules that do not align with best practice for young learners. Children that are five and six best learn from play. They need the opportunity to design their own plan, carry out their plan and reflect on what happened. Through this process, Kindergarteners are developing key executive functioning skills. They are practicing and developing life skills such as selfregulation, cooperation, problem solving, creative thinking, negotiation, taking turns, perseverance, risktaking and communication. Please vote to return and protect play in Kindergarten so I don't have to keep fighting every year to do right by my Kindergarteners.

02-16-2026

Amber Darling

As a speech language pathologist I support bill HF 460 for an act relating to playbased learning in preschool, prekindergarten, and kindergarten. Children need time to play in order to learn. Children arent given the time to explore and be curious and to learn to problem solve. They spend too much time with electronics often introduced at school first. Kids need hands on learning and that means doing things and not watching videos of whatever a teacher finds on YouTube.

02-16-2026

Lisa Reid

Please support this bill! As a teacher of young children for over 30 years, I have seen the increasing need for social skills. Center time and recess are learning times where children can practice these skills. This is even more important with the increased use of technology. Children need to have real experiences to learn patience, responsibility, empathy, perseverance while discovering the world and having fun doing it. This has been taken away from many schools and that is one reason we have high schoolers who drop out, or hurt themselves or others because they cant communicate their feelings please help our children.

02-16-2026

Shauna Kane

Please return play to kindergarten! So many children are not given the proper amount of time to play learning how to socialize and communicate with others. Students who do not receive enough play are not able to regulate their minds and bodies. We need to allow our children to grow, learning how to regulate their minds and bodies through play so they can learn as they continue to grow older.

02-16-2026

Jennifer Proctor

Yes!As an educator and mom, theres much research supporting play as the building blocks for academic learning for preschool and kindergarten students (as well older kids).Thanks for contributing a common sense support for our youngest learners!

02-16-2026

Katherine Denniston

If youve ever watched kindergartners turn blocks into a hospital or argue over who gets to be the dragon, youve seen real learning happening. Play isnt a break from academics in early childhood its the foundation. Through play, kids build language, problemsolving skills, and selfcontrol. They learn to negotiate, to listen, to try again when something falls apart. Thats executive functioning in action.When children write signs for their pretend store or count out play money, theyre practicing literacy and math in ways that actually stick because it matters to them. Organizations like the National Association for the Education of Young Children support playbased learning because it aligns with how young brains develop.Kindergarten doesnt need to feel like a race. Fiveyearolds learn best through movement, imagination, and connection. If we want confident, capable learners long term, we have to protect play now.

02-16-2026

Jen Autera

Play based learning is so very important for preschool and kindergarten. Young students learn so many things from playing with their friends at school. Please consider all the positive outcomes from allowing play centers in classrooms for younger children.

02-16-2026

Katie Walton

I taught Preschool the first six years of my teaching career, 19 years ago. This bill is a long time coming and I couldnt be more excited to have it enter this phase. Young children NEED social/play time in Kindergarten. They need to learn how to regulate themselves so they can focus on academics in later years. Weve let a full generation of Kindergartners pass through with no play timewhat has changed? Behaviors have increased at all grade levels because students dont know how to regulate their emotions, communicate face to face with others, how to problem solve appropriately. Please vote YES for this bill. The future generation of Kindergartners thank you in advance!

02-17-2026

Maralyn Schulze

Vote yes for this bill.Data has shown that children need more exploring play time.Having little kitchens and play areas give children a chance to learn while playing with classmates. Young children need lots of movement in their day and less sitting at desks or tables. Imagination is learning.

02-17-2026

Sandi Sickels

I irge you to vote to move this bill forward. As a mental health provider in schools, I see firsthand the results that lack of play and academic pressures have on young childrens mental health. Children need connection, regulation, and felt safety to learn academics which is enhanced through child directed play. Research shpports this bill!

02-17-2026

Jenny Kitzmiller

What does child directed play look like??A kid friendly space with centers and plenty of toys for children to play with. Items may include: blocks, dressup, art, play dough, housekeeping, etc. Play materials could be theme based. Students are freely choosing what they would like to play with. Students are taking the lead on their play. Students are creating their own rules and boundaries. Students are exploring and engaging in activities of interest. Students are making decisions on whether they would like to play independently or with peers. Students are inventors, artists, problem solvers, engineers, etc. Teachers provide prompts as needed to support students. Teachers follow the students' leads. Future ready skills develop. Students use their imagination and creativity.What does it sound like?Students engage in social interactions with peers. Students talking and working on communication skills. Students start the conversations. Teachers are asking openended questions. Joyful

02-17-2026

Eric Kitzmiller [CRCSD]

Please vote to bring back play in Kindergarten. Our kids need you! Children learn best through self chosen, handson learning. Play supports social emotional, cognitive and physical development. Play increases focus, helps develop problem solving skills, and supports communication and language development. Play offers students opportunities to experiment, be creative and explore. Play allows students to move. Play is developmentally appropriate, allowing students to be more engaged. Believe in our future and bring back play! Our children need and deserve this time!!

02-17-2026

Bridget Castelluccio

Please vote YES to pass this bill out of subcommittee!! I have been an early childhood and elementary educator for over 30 years and playbased learning is critical to the development of our young children. Extensive research has show this to be the way our youngest learners are successful later in their K12 education path.

02-17-2026

Melissa Anderson

I strongly urge you to pass this as both an educator and as a mom to two kids who are both getting ready to enter the school system. Play isnt just for fun, its a foundational step in helping kids emotionally develop, build crucial background knowledge, and developmentally essential. Many kids are no longer getting this type of play at home and ensuring schools can allow kids this time isnt just a want, its a need. If we want students to start succeeding in school at higher rates, I urge you to pass this. I teach in one of the lowest socioeconomic schools in the state, and our kids need time to play with support from adults teaching them crucial skills like how to share, how to disagree, ect. Thank you and I have confidence that you will take this next step for all kids, and my own who are about to enter the school system.

02-17-2026

Jennie Palumbo

A yes vote will totally make a huge difference in the classroom for the children.To have playtime that allows them to engage more with others will add to their learning skills. To be able to gain social skills, learn problem solving, and learn how to regulate feelings all while in a relaxed environment with friends,how priceless.

02-17-2026

Corissa Sundquist

What is appropriate for a 5 year old is not to sit through hour long lessons and not being able to move. Kids need to explore and learn through play. Embedded learning should return to our classrooms! Also consider the extreme behaviors that are running rampant through our buildings because we are forcing kids to preform duties that are not age appropriate

02-17-2026

Jessica Roman

Yes to this! I am an early childhood special education teacher. The research and evidence are clear play is learning, and is the most effective modality for young children. Their brains and bodies need movement, exploration, and engagement with a wide variety of sensory experiences and materials. Something as simple as block play teaches premath skills: problem solving, concepts of one, counting, spatial relationships, shapes, and comparison. Our kids need more play than ever in a world inundated by screens.

02-17-2026

Jessica Cozad

Play is the first stage of learning and I know it is hard on these kids to go from preschool (mainly play based) to kindergarten sitting at a desk all day with minimal playtime or recess. Kids through 5th grade honestly should get more recess time too. 6th8th need more time to decompress between classes also! Children get labeled as ADHD when they just need more time to get that energy out.

02-17-2026

Allison Uhll

I support this bill, it is our responsibility to ensure that while we seek academic success for our kids, we maintain developmentally appropriate activities that fuel their imagination, sense of play and childhood. Literature is well established that kindergarteners learn through play and it is essential to their successful launch into academia.

02-17-2026

Lacey Johnson

I support this file because play based learning has a powerful impact on social and emotional learning by helping young children practice self regulation, communication, cooperation, and problem solving in real meaningful ways. Through guided play, student learn to manage emotions, build relationships, develop confidence all skills that are essential for long term success in school and life! Weve taken play out of our young childrens lives in both at home and school. Teachers can feel the impact due to student lack of regulation, emotional development, problem solving and inquiry skills and compassion for others. Please pass this file!

02-17-2026

Larry Johnson

As a high school teacher, I see firsthand how students socialemotional skills impact their success years later. Through my wifes work in early childhood education, I also see how playbased learning builds selfregulation, communication, and problemsolving skills from the start. These skills carry forward into high school classrooms and are essential for longterm academic and personal success.

02-17-2026

Becky Popelka

I teach elementary art and having play in Kindergarten is super important. We have made kindergarten way to academic and time for play and socialemotional learning has been lost along the way. Current kindergarten practices are not developmentally appropriate children learn so much by playing including creativity, selfregulation, collaboration, problem solving and independent thinking.We need to infuse playtime back into kindergarten.

02-17-2026

Joshua Brown [Iowa State Education Association]

I am writing regarding the essential role of childdirected play in the academic and social development of Iowas students. Thank you to the members of this subcommittee for your attention to this important developmental issue in our classrooms. My comments are attached to this submission form.

Attachment

02-17-2026

Salina Chesnut

I believe play based learning is important. It is an educational approach where children learn academic and social skills through purposeful, teacherguided activities and play. This is developmental appropriate for these young children. State Initiatives: Some states (ex. New Hampshire: https://www.education.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt326/files/inlinedocuments/, Connecticut, https://www.edweek.org/teachinglearning/playbasedlearninginkindergartenismakingacomebackhereswhatitmeans/2025/10) have enacted legislation promoting or requiring playbased learning in kindergarten to combat overtesting. Playbased learning is not just letting children do whatever they want; it is a structured, that often includes teacher guidance. I would recommend multisensory approach to enhance the learning. Play based can be more effective than just direct instruction: https://www.edutopia.org/article/youngkidspowerplaybasedlearning/. Reduces behavior, stress and boost selfregulation.

02-17-2026

Sherri Cramer [Creston Schools]

As a preschool teacher, I support play based learning for kindergarten. It is a huge shock for our kids to go from play based learning in preschool to full day academic driven learning with only 2 recess es and 90 minute reading blocks that only offer a video brain break. 5 yr olds are still little children that need play. Thats how young children learn. We have so many kids coming in with trauma and behavioral challenges that only grow worse when faced with the demands that current kindergarten curriculum requires. Get rid of iPads, chrome books and bring back toys, interactions with peers, writing with paper and pencil and playing outside. Teachers need to be the focus point instead of a smart board. Current practices are not developmentally appropriate. As for preschool, please do not support 5 days a week for all day. Even with naps its too much for 4 yr olds. Plus staff need time for all the cleaning, collaboration and planning. Keep the 12 hrs a week for state wide.

02-17-2026

Judith Jensen [former Kgtn teacher ICCSD]

I watched while Kindergarten became the new First Grade in the early 2000's2010's. Teaching those little ones became harder as the official schedule gave them little time to play and inappropriate intense focus on skills they mostly did not develop at 5 or 6. Child development has not changed! For instance, for a child's eye's to track letters , they must develop that skill over time. Play is essential for emotional growth and problemsolving. And the kids who have time to play grow more creative, learn to get along with others better and enjoy learning more. Give kids back their playtime so they can learn more easily. In the wise words of Fred Rogers, "Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning."

02-17-2026

Elizabeth Harris

Please return play to kindergarten. What a child learns during play cannot be taught with a device. Play helps children learn to share, regulate themselves and their emotions, but most importantly it helps them learn imagination. Help children learn how to be children