The Importance of Free Play

     As a child, do you remember how much fun you had playing outside, building forts, and creating your own imaginary worlds? It turns out that unstructured play - the kind of play that doesn't have a set goal or rules - is not only fun but also crucial for a child's development.

    Unstructured play allows children to use their imagination and creativity. When they're given the freedom to play without specific rules or guidelines, they're forced to use their imagination to come up with new ideas and solutions to problems. This kind of play encourages children to think outside the box and find creative solutions, which can benefit them later in life as they face challenges.

    Unstructured play also helps children develop social skills. When they're playing with other children, they have to learn to communicate, negotiate, and compromise. They learn how to take turns, share, and work together to achieve a common goal. These skills are essential for building strong relationships and can benefit them throughout their lives.

    Playing outdoors also offers physical benefits. It's an opportunity for children to run, jump, climb, and explore. This kind of physical activity helps develop gross motor skills, coordination, and balance. It also encourages children to be active, which can help combat childhood obesity and promote a healthy lifestyle.

    It's a sad reality that in today's fast-paced world, children are getting less and less time for unstructured play. With the rise of technology and structured activities, kids are missing out on the freedom and creativity that come with unstructured playtime. Parents are eager to get their kids "ahead" and opt for longer school days and pile on extracurricular activities. In fact, studies have shown that kids today only get four to seven minutes of unstructured playtime per day on average.

    This lack of unstructured playtime can have a negative impact on children's development. When children are constantly scheduled and told what to do, they miss out on the opportunity to explore their own interests and passions. They don't have the chance to use their imagination and creativity to come up with new ideas and solutions to problems. This lack of freedom and independence can lead to a lack of self-confidence and self-esteem.

    It's important to note that unstructured play doesn't necessarily mean unsupervised play. Children still need guidance and supervision to ensure their safety and well-being. But by allowing children the freedom to play and explore, parents and caregivers can provide them with valuable opportunities to learn, grow, and have fun.

    I've noticed that recently outdoor programs, nature groups, and forest schools are blossoming! Our own community, Wild and Barefoot Nature Group, has tripled in size since we started three years ago. Look at your child's day- is there space for these quiet moments of childhood?

“Self-education through play and exploration requires enormous amounts of unscheduled time—time to do whatever one wants to do, without pressure, judgment, or intrusion from authority figures. That time is needed to make friends, play with ideas and materials, experience and overcome boredom, learn from one’s own mistakes, and develop passions.” 
― Peter O. Gray, Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life