Caroline Pratt

American educator

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July 21, 2026

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Caroline Pratt was an American educator who founded the Play School Movement in New York City in 1914. Her educational philosophy was rooted in the belief that children learn best through play, a concept influenced by Jean Piaget and her mentor John Dewey. Pratt emphasized intrinsic motivation and allowing children to construct their own understanding of the world. She also developed wooden unit blocks, which became a staple in early childhood education. Her school, now known as the City and Country School, is the oldest continuously operating progressive elementary school in New York state and focuses on an integrated curriculum that emphasizes community and democratic citizenship.123

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Play School Movement
…century by progressive American educator Caroline Pratt and based on the belief that children create and test their knowledge of the world through play. Approaching education as a multisensory endeavour, Pratt opened the Play School in New York City in the autumn of 1914.
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…century by progressive American educator Caroline Pratt and based on the belief that children create and test their knowledge of the world through play. Approaching education as a multisensory endeavour, Pratt opened the Play School in New York City in the autumn of 1914.
Read More