Research Summary: “Los niños tienen derecho de jugar”: exploring Latina mothers’ experiences as co-researchers and advocates for playful learning in community spaces

A study explored Latina mothers' experiences as co-researchers and advocates in the Playful Learning Landscapes initiative, which aims to integrate community engagement with learning science to create playful learning opportunities in public spaces. The research, based on interviews with 20 Latina mothers in Southern California, sheds light on the nature of parental involvement in such projects and how it influences access to enriching learning opportunities beyond formal educational settings.

Why it matters

This research highlights the critical role of community engagement and parental involvement in developing and delivering educational initiatives, particularly those aimed at equitable access. Understanding the experiences of co-researchers provides insights into effective implementation strategies and stakeholder empowerment, which can inform resource allocation and program design in areas of social impact and community development.

Key insights

• Playful learning in public spaces can broaden children's access to educational opportunities outside traditional schooling.
• Opportunities for playful learning are not equally distributed across different communities.
• The Playful Learning Landscapes initiative combines community engagement with learning science to develop public playful learning environments.
• The study specifically investigated how Latine parents experienced sustained involvement as co-researchers within this initiative.
• Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 Latina mothers in Southern California who served as parent co-researchers.

Source

Frontiers in Education — https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2026.1898497