This theoretical discussion frames play as a "place" consistent with the tenets of place-based education. We adopt a broad definition of place-based education to include both the environment around the child and the place within the child, their "world of play." We will apply theories of place-based education to demonstrate that play is indeed a place--a safe space where children learn about the world and about themselves. We discuss the challenges that the field of early childhood faces in the era of accountability and argue that play, like places in our natural environment, should be nurtured and protected.