Play has long been viewed as contributing to the social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development of young children (Ahmed et al., 2023; Bergen, 2002; Garvey, 1990; Vygotsky, 1976). Beyond these contributions, play is believed to be what makes childhood joyful (Landreth & Homeyer, 2021; Stetsenko & Ho, 2015). For these reasons, the International Play Association (2014) has proclaimed that children have a fundamental right to play—a right that includes opportunities to engage in the open-ended, self-chosen, and emotionally meaningful activities that are observed in children around the world (Roopnarine et al., 2015).