Captured over seven years across 14 countries, including Burkina Faso, Cuba, Haiti, Jordan, and the U.S., these images celebrate children engaged in spontaneous, unstructured play, free from adult supervision.

Farese’s evocative photos not only capture the joy and universality of play, but also provoke reflection: Where does play fit in our own lives, and how can we ensure that all children have the opportunity to play their way into a healthy adulthood and a more equitable world?