Children need twice the amount of free play as structured experiences for mental and physical health
At Acton Academy Madison West, we intentionally provide myriad opportunities for unstructured play indoors and outdoors. Recent research suggests that children should experience twice as much unstructured time as structured play experiences. Yet, according to Dr. Peter Gray, researcher and author of Free to Learn, children’s opportunities to engage in free play have been declining for decades, with deleterious effects on children’s well-being.
Below are some of the undisputed benefits of free play:
Creativity Unleashed: unstructured play is fertile ground for creativity. Children explore their imaginations, invent scenarios, and express themselves freely. Building forts, creating intricate worlds, or designing fantastical stories foster a space where creativity flourishes.
Problem-Solving: negotiating roles in a game or figuring out how to build a tower with blocks contributes to the development of critical thinking skills. These experiences lay the foundation for effective problem-solving skills useful throughout life.
Social Development: unstructured play is a social playground where children learn interpersonal skills. Engaging without strict rules allows them to practice communication, cooperation, and conflict resolution, fostering emotional intelligence and positive relationship skills.
Physical well-being: outdoor free play promotes physical activity and overall well-being. Spontaneous movements help develop motor skills, coordination, and strength. Exposure to the outdoors contributes to a healthy body and mind.
Self-regulation: unstructured play teaches children to self-regulate behaviors and emotions. Without external guidelines, they learn to manage impulses, share, and understand consequences, laying the groundwork for positive behavior in various life situations.
Rather than filling children’s lives with adult-supervised and adult-structured extracurriculars, sports activities, homework and screen time, let’s champion unstructured play, recognizing its pivotal role in shaping resilient, imaginative individuals for the future.
Acton Academy Madison West is an innovative, learner-driven elementary school. We believe that learning to learn, learning to do, and learning to be, are more powerful than knowing alone.
