Families For Life | Let Kids Play Like Kids
As parents, we often feel pressure to keep our kids busy with purposeful activities. Whether it is hobbies or playtime, you might hear a nagging at the back of your mind that activities “need to build motor skills”, or “should teach them something useful”. But here’s the thing: valuable learning can happen when kids play just for fun. In fact, play without purpose is as beneficial as structured play for your child’s development.
Let’s discuss why this is so, and how to strike the right balance between purposeful play and free play for your little ones.
What is free play?
Free play, or unstructured play, is where children have full freedom to play in whatever way they want. Free play gives children the freedom to explore, create, and discover without pre-determined rules or guidelines. Free play can be letting them run freely at the park, imaginative play, or letting them play with toys without following intended rules.
This play allows children to use their creativity and problem-solving skills. They use their imagination to solve their boredom, rely on creative thinking to set rules and build their independence by exploring their interests.
The benefits of free play
Free play is a natural part of childhood as children learn about the world around them through play. When children engage in free play, they experience fun and personal growth in various areas:
Cognitive Development: Kids get to think outside the box as they invent games and solve problems that arise during play.
Social Skills: When children interact with others in free play, they develop communication, teamwork, negotiation, and conflict-resolution skills.
Emotional Growth: Unstructured play allows children to express their feelings and navigate their emotions. They learn to cope with wins and losses and build resilience and emotional intelligence.
Physical Health: Engaging in active play promotes physical fitness. Climbing, running, and jumping strengthen their bodies and improve coordination and motor skills.
Stress Relief: Free play provides time to unwind from the stresses of structured activities. It lets your kids’ minds run free and unworried if they are following any rules.
Finding a balance is vital
Naturally, you’d want your child to get the benefits of free play, while effectively working on specific skills. However, too much free play can lead to a lack of direction or focus, while too much structured play can leave them lacking in self-confidence. Finding a balance between the two will ensure your child has the freedom to explore and create, and get structure to learn and grow.
Here’s how you can incorporate free play and structured play into your kids’ schedules:
Designate Time: Set aside specific times for free play. Let your kids decide how they want to spend that time so they enjoy the most out of free play.
Incorporate into Routine: Mix structured activities with free play. For instance, if your child has a soccer practice, follow it up with some relaxed time in the park where they can run around freely.
Encourage Independent Play: Allow your child to engage in play without constant supervision. Give them space to explore their surroundings, which fosters independence and creativity.
Make It A Family Activity: Arrange playdates with the family and let the kids take the lead. This encourages social skills and lets them explore their interests with loved ones. Plus, these moments can make good family memories.
It’s okay to let go of control over play
Allowing children the freedom to play without a specific purpose is beneficial for their growth and development. While structured activities have their place, free play offers other benefits from enhancing creativity to building social skills. So, occasionally, it’s okay to let go of the need to control every activity your kids engage in. After all, the most memorable moments in childhood often come from kids simply being kids.
Parenting can be tough with many unanswered questions and grey areas. Families For Life’s Parenting Programmes are a great start to get tips and strategies to make your parenting journey more fulfilling and purposeful. Get started here!