Howard Chudacoff, the George L. Littlefield Professor of American History and professor of urban studies, is the featured interview subject in the latest edition of American Journal of Play. In the interview, Chudacoff reflects on historic and contemporary influences on children’s play, and on the relationship between play and sports. Chudacoff is the author of Children at Play: An American History, which chronicles children’s exuberant play across the centuries as well as adult attempts to save children from their playful impulses. He is currently working on a book about the major turning points in the history of intercollegiate athletics during the second half of the 20th century.