Why Unstructured Play is Essential for Children’s Development
They started as gardeners and ended up being princesses building castles
As parents,
we all want the best for our children. We want them to be happy, healthy, and successful. We want them to learn, grow, and thrive. We want them to have fun and enjoy their childhood.
But sometimes, we may forget that one of the most important ways to achieve these goals is to let our children play free. Often time it will leave a big mess, as you can see it on the photo above too.
The other day I decided to replant some of our plants and invited my daughters to join in. For about 15 minutes they really enjoyed digging into the soil and helping me, but then they started to make their own games, made up stories and as you can see, made a huge mess on our terrace. At first it is overwhelming to look at the mess they can make, but I know for sure that it worth to let them play so free.
Read on to find out more about free, unstructured play.
What is unstructured play?
Unstructured play is a type of play that is not organized or directed by adults or older peers. It is spontaneous, voluntary, flexible, and fun. It often involves an element of make-believe, creativity, and exploration. Unstructured play can happen indoors or outdoors, with or without toys, and with or without other children.
Unstructured play is different from structured play, which is more organized, supervised, and goal-oriented. Structured play can include activities such as sports, games, classes, lessons, homework, and chores.
Both types of play have their own merits, but unstructured play has some unique benefits that structured play cannot provide. In fact, research suggests that children should experience twice as much unstructured time as structured play experiences.
Why is unstructured play beneficial for children’s development?
Unstructured play has many benefits for children’s development. It helps them to:
Learn about themselves and the world around them. Unstructured play allows children to discover their own interests, preferences, strengths, and weaknesses. It also exposes them to different situations, challenges, and opportunities that can broaden their knowledge and skills. For example, when children play with blocks, they can learn about shapes, colors, sizes, patterns, numbers, gravity, balance, and more. When children play with dolls, they can learn about roles, relationships, emotions, and communication.
Develop social and emotional skills. Unstructured play fosters social competence, respect for rules, self-discipline, aggression control, problem-solving skills, leadership development, conflict resolution, and playing by the rules. It also teaches children empathy, reciprocity, sharing, cooperation, and perspective-taking. For example, when children play with other children, they can learn how to negotiate, compromise, collaborate, and take turns. When children play alone, they can learn how to cope with boredom, frustration, and loneliness.
Boost their physical and mental health. Unstructured play promotes physical activity, which can improve children’s fitness, energy, and immunity. It also reduces stress, anxiety, and boredom, which can improve children’s mood, attention, and memory. Unstructured play can also stimulate children’s imagination, creativity, and innovation, which can enhance their cognitive and academic abilities. For example, when children play with cardboard boxes, they can transform them into rockets, castles, cars, or anything else they can imagine. When children play with puzzles, they can improve their spatial reasoning, logic, and concentration.
Here are some ways we can support unstructured play for our children:
Provide time and space. Children need enough time and space to engage in unstructured play. We can set aside some time every day for unstructured play, and avoid over-scheduling our children with too many structured activities.
Provide materials and resources. We can provide a variety of toys and objects that are open-ended, versatile, and stimulating. We can also encourage our children to use their own imagination and creativity to create their own toys and objects from everyday items, such as cardboard boxes, paper, scissors, tape, glue, etc.
Provide guidance and support. Children need some guidance and support to optimize unstructured play. We can also join in the play or support our children’s play, if they invite us or if we feel it is appropriate. However, we should not interfere, control, or direct the play, and let our children take the lead and make their own decisions.
Provide appreciation and encouragement. We can show interest and curiosity in our children’s play, and praise their efforts, achievements, and creations. We can also celebrate and share their play with others, such as family members, friends, or teachers. We can also acknowledge and respect the mess that may result from unstructured play, and help our children clean up afterwards.
Unstructured play is not a waste of time, but a valuable investment in children’s development. It can feed children’s imagination and help them make their own fun and make-believe.
It can also strengthen the bond between parents and children, if parents join in the play or support their children’s play. Unstructured play is not a luxury, but a necessity for children’s well-being. Let’s give our children the gift of unstructured play, and let them play.
With much love,
