Importance of Free Play: Letting Kids Be Kids

Our communities have dedicated spaces for kids to play, such as Children’s Park, but we rarely see kids playing there. It is saddening to see how these well-designed spaces with swings stay empty. Instead of playing in the open, the new generation of children seems comfortable at home playing with toys or glued to their YouTube videos. 

Nothing can replace playing under the open sky with your neighbourhood friends, taking turns on the slides, or just creating a new game with rules of your own—that is the joy of free play. Free play is not just a feel-good option but essential for kids as it has multiple benefits. It offers challenges and room for creativity and imagination. It fosters skill development and promotes overall well-being. The best preschool for play-based learning uses free play as a technique to teach kids valuable life skills.

What is free play?

Free play is when kids have the freedom to choose what to play, decide the rules, and execute the whole activity. It is unstructured, child-initiated, and spontaneous – with minimal or no involvement of adults. While some kids like playing with their group of friends others prefer playing alone. Free play can include playing hide and seek, dressing up, dancing, painting, solving puzzles, or just running around. Each kid has their preferences and a unique way of expressing themselves. 

How does free play help child development?

Beansprouts, the best preschool for play-based learning emphasizes play-based learning in early childhood because of its proven benefits and to develop a love for learning among kids. Here are a few benefits of unstructured play – 

• Cognitive development 

 A study on “The importance of recess for children’s cognitive development” in the Journal of School Health, 2009 found that free play is essential for cognitive development. Free Play allows kids to explore nature and find new games and toys in the world around them. Playing in an open environment with endless possibilities requires kids to think, experiment, take into account the resources available, and the challenges, and come up with new imaginative games. This process teaches them critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

• Social & emotional development 

A little free play and recreation time can impact a child’s social and emotional development. Playing pretend games, building a fort together, or team sports, make kids socialise with each other and build friendships that they will cherish forever. Free play requires them to interact with each other, negotiate, and cooperate, shaping their interpersonal skills. They learn to take turns, resolve conflicts, and work together towards a common goal, developing trust, loyalty, and positive relationships.

• Physical development 

A study on “Active play and cognitive development in preschool children” in the Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 2015 found a strong link between active free play and children’s physical and cognitive development. Excited kids during free play use large muscle movements like running during ice water, jumping while skipping, climbing on the swing, riding a bicycle etc. Encourage your little one to do activities that have outdoor play benefits for kids. This will help them develop gross motor skills, coordination, and overall physical well-being.

• Creativity and imagination

Free play is unstructured by nature providing kids to think and explore their creative ideas and invent unique games. It allows them to bring their out-of-the-box ideas and thoughts to life. They are free to experiment without any direction or interference from adults. Kids take full advantage of this golden chance to explore possibilities and invent new scenarios. Playing pretend games, dressing up,  playing with cardboard, or using any waste materials in their games drive their creativity and imagination. 

• Improves mood and well-being

The happier the child, the better the well-being. And who can be happier than a playful kid? Free play promotes healthy child development and maintains strong parent-child bonds. It is a helpful technique for parents to deal with their kid’s temper tantrums and mood swings. This strategy works every time by serving the kid a distraction to let their negative emotions out in a creative and fun way. It provides a sense of control and enjoyment, which can buffer against low mood and tantrums.

Creative play ideas for young children 

 The best preschool for play-based learning understands the importance of free play for kids and organizes free play activities for preschoolers so that they can play, thrive, & grow. 

• Toys and object play 

Playing with educational toys like building blocks, abacus or musical instruments promotes sensory-motor skills and creativity. 

• Physical play 

Playing in the playground, around the swings, and during recess helps kids get their energetic break and develop motor skills.

• Outdoor play 

Exploring nature, playing scavenger hunts, or making something in the sandpit, makes kids imaginative and builds a creative mindset.

• Pretend play 

It involves role-playing and dressing up like the character. Kids pick up the character of their favourite animal, learn about it, talk about it, and gather more knowledge about it in a fun and unique way.

A world of possibilities is awaiting your kid outside. Help them find the joy in free play and fill the Children’s park with their joy and laughter. Beansprouts, the best preschool for play-based learning encourages kids to explore nature and try different activities. Because having fun is the best way of learning.