The Wonderful World of Free Play
Witnessing a young child’s play-world take shape is a beautiful thing to behold. Play cars become the fastest racecar you’ve ever seen! and animals in the sand are suddenly endangered species in need of your child’s help to evade the ‘badguys’. To get to this point where animals in the sand can lead to a whole world of imagination, children must be given the time and space to practice. It might sound silly, “who needs to practice play?” but with the busy schedule that pushes this day and age forward, time for free play is actually much less common. Whether your child is at home, at daycare or in a childcare setting, putting time aside for free play is hugely beneficial to your little one’s early childhood education.
Here at Chester Child Development Center, while we do have wonderful, structured learning and play time, we also provide our students with daily free play time both indoors and out. Call today to chat about our daily schedules and to book a tour to see our classrooms and outdoor play areas.
What Exactly Is Free Play, and Why Does It Matter?
Free play is child-directed, unstructured playtime where children choose what and how to play, giving them the space to make decisions, create, and cultivate their own imagination. UNICEF backs this up, finding that free play is critical for nurturing imagination, problem-solving, independence, and social-emotional skills (UNICEF).
Let’s take a look at some of the research behind the benefits of free play, as well as some ways to support children in their free play at home or within daycare and childcare settings.
> Brainpower Through Play
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) notes that when children engage in free play, they build executive functioning skills such as planning, self-regulation, and flexible thinking. A little free play can go a long way for setting children up for success in early childhood education and beyond!
Here at Chester Child Development Center, we are dedicated to setting our students up for success not only in their younger years, but beyond, as well! Call today to ask about our daily schedules from class to class and to see about our classroom openings!
> Strong Bodies, Healthy Habits
Running, climbing, and pretending to be animals on the playground is not just a fun past time, it doubles as a full-body workout! Children build gross motor skills, balance, and coordination through physical free play, additionally allowing them to burn energy, maintain a healthy weight, and develop lifelong habits of movement (Bright Horizons).
We love our outside time here at Chester Child Development Center! Schedule a tour today and see our epic playground and lovely outdoor spaces where play and friendship grow.
> Play for Emotional and Social Support
Research presented by the NIH shows that imaginative play supports emotional regulation and resilience. When a child is pretending to be a mommy, a doctor, or even a superhero, they not only have the opportunity to practice empathy, they have the space to act out and work through big emotions, disagreements with friends, and to practice sharing. Whether your child is in daycare, childcare, or at home, practice makes perfect and spending time working on these skills through play will help set a strong foundation for emotional and social growth in the future.
Our early childhood educators are amazing facilitators of learning, problem solving, and encouraging play. Come by for a tour to chat with our teachers; they would love to share their classroom goals and vision with you!
> Free Play and Mental Health
Life only seems to be getting faster and faster and as a byproduct, children often face overscheduled days. Even if days are full of lovely activities and structured learning, experts warn that a lack of free play can increase stress, anxiety, and even depression. Free play can be a natural stress reliever by giving children time to recharge and regulate (TIME).
Free play for a child is like a quiet afternoon with a cup of tea or coffee for an adult. Peaceful, lovely, centering. Here at Chester Child Development Center we intersperse out free time to give children a chance to explore their imaginations and recharge before the next structured activity. Call today to schedule a tour and see our skilled educators in action!
> Fewer Toys, More Creativity
While it may be difficult to believe and children would never admit it, fewer toys can actually lead to more meaningful play. A study published in Infant Behavior and Development found that toddlers with fewer toys played more creatively and for longer stretches of time. The simplicity encouraged them to use their imagination rather than give into bored distraction (NY Post summary of study). These toys do not need to be the newest-coolest toy, either, but can include simple everyday objects like spoons, cardboard boxes, and clean washcloths!
We have an assortment of toys available in our classrooms here at Chester CDC and we rotate them wisely, encouraging different kinds of play and excitement for new things in doing so! We would love to show you around and let you join in on the fun! Call today to schedule a tour to come out and see us!
Balance is Key
Structured learning activities are important, but as we explored earlier in this article, overscheduling children has multiple downsides, as well. Parents, childcare and daycare workers and early childhood educators should provide a balance between child-directed play as well as guided lessons.
Here at Chester Child Development Center we strive to find the balance in all things: from structured learning to free play, indoor toys and outdoor adventures, academics and social-emotional growth. We know that these little one’s have much more to learn that just their ABC’s and we are here and ready to support them through that. Call us up today to schedule a tour and find out more about how we help our students thrive!
