Free Play Is A Key To Children's Success

Are you ever frustrated by your child's inability to focus?

One way to prepare a child for a learning time is to allow for free exploration before the scheduled "learning time".

This allows the child to get a feel for his/her environment; helping to satisfy curiosity, become familiar and comfortable with the surroundings.

Another reason why free play is so important is it helps the child to make the connection that there are multiple ways to learn something with more than one material, thus forcing their senses and abilities to be challenged.

In "Free Play" children learn from other children. This is a great way to reinforce learning, too. As well, it helps him/her to discover alternative uses for different types of materials, and children are able to decide whether or not he/she wants to participate with others.

Free Play often gives a child the opportunity to discover sorting, counting, patterns, geometry, measurement, balance, comparisons of color, shape, size, weight, sound and other details.

Free Play allows your child to experience self confidence because there is no "right" or "wrong".
They can feel acceptance just for playing, which is a crucial element to healthy self-esteem.

Free Play also allows for conversation; they can talk about ideas they have, problem solve together, and discuss the limitations of the materials in use.

The Free Time experience prepares a child to be directed in more formal learning later.

Free Time also benefits parents, caregivers, and teachers.

We are able to observe how and the degree a child challenges him/herself and their level of tolerance when performing a challenging task. (how frustrated does one become if is doesn't work out the first/second/third time.)

We are also privy to watch children interact with their peers. What difficulties they may have or whether they can verbalize their needs/wants.

This allows us to see what the child does when not trying"to please" us and help identify if the child is self-directed, prefers collaborated situations, or is amiable.

Therefore, Free time allows us to see and identify our children's skills and developmental stage.

I really wanted to share with you my thoughts because sometimes free play gets underrated and minimized. Without the accessibility of "free play" our children's skills can be weakened, motivation deterred, and proper analysis of developmental stage can be missed.