The opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Vanier Institute of the Family. [...] Two new papers from The Vanier Institute of the Family explore the issues of children and urbanization and their use of time. [...] With the onset of the Industrial Revolution in Europe (from the late 18th to the early 19th centuries) came the establishment of child labour laws and the advent of universal schooling (Miller, 2002; Qvor- trup, 1995). [...] A more popular appreciation for the importance and meaning of play as part of children’s learning and development emerged in the wake of groundbreaking research in the field of developmental psychology. [...] Play Environments Although play appears as a natural part of children’s development, the environment – the level and types of resources available and the involvement of others – can influence the outcomes of play experiences.