Why does free play matter in a digital world?

Imagine school break time. Released from lessons, the children rush outside. They run, jump, shriek. There’s talking, laughter, whispered secrets. They group and regroup freely. Sudden bursts of activity are mysterious to outsiders. Benches become castles, corners are “home,” borders are chalked on the tarmac. The rules of the game are created and broken at will. It can be emotional, intense, absorbing, unpredictable.