When we talk about free play,We are talking about play that’s unstructured. Open-ended. Child-led. Not adult-instructed. Full of joy. It’s the kind of play that makes childhood magical and brain development optimal. And though it often naturally occurs when there’s so-called “downtime” — that doesn’t make it any less important. It’s essential to give kids the time and the freedom to create something from nothing and to follow their curiosity.
The Free Play Way
To Take Back Childhood, I’m convinced we need to focus on free play. Here’s why:
- It builds brains. The positive impact of unstructured play on cognitive, behavioral, social, and emotional development is something witnessed firsthand, but if you want to check out the hard science, see this report from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
- It reveals passions. It’s through playful exploration that kids discover interests, passions, and talents. We want our kids to be happy and, ideally, building a career when they grow up that’s true to their core selves. Figuring out who they truly are and what they love to do begins with play.
- It promotes creativity. Given time and space and removed from distractions, kids gravitate to creativity and creative thinking. When they are able to let their minds and bodies roam, they can come up with imaginative solutions to problems. This kind of creative problem-solving is what will produce the disruptive innovators of tomorrow.
- It makes connections. Playful interactions — with friends and grownups alike – help kids navigate social terrain, negotiate terms, define norms, develop empathy, and so much more.
- It provides a safe space for trial…and error. The great thing about play is that the stakes are low. There’s no state-mandated test — no right and wrong. Kids have the freedom to try out their ideas, test them, and try again if they fail. In short, it builds resilience. And grit.
- Plan for Play. The play isn’t planned, but the time is. Set aside time each and every day (night) for unstructured, anything-goes, free play. Put it on your calendar just like you’d pencil in soccer practice.
- Let Kids Lead. You can be part of your child’s unstructured play or step back. It’s up to you, but remember to think about guiding and facilitating, not directing or dictating. Sometimes kids just need a gentle nudge in a playful direction.
- Keep It Free. The best thing about free play is that, in most cases, depending on your child’s interests, no materials (or very few) are required. The best play truly begins with nothing but imagination. That’s when kids put their own twists on whatever happens to exist in their environment. And we’ve all witnessed that magic happen with even a simple cardboard box.
