This document discusses the concept of a "Play Ethic" and what a Play Ethic approach to radical childcare might look like. It defines play as "adaptive potentiation" that allows rehearsal for living with complexity through a balance of risk and security. A Play Ethic presumes the freedom, imagination and rebelliousness of subjects, conveying confidence in one's ability to shape oneself and one's world. For radical childcare, it would justify building fully professionalized free preschools, more car-free public spaces for play, and policies promoting reduced working hours to allow more time for community play among both children and adults.