Why ?Free Play? is Important to Social Development of Our Kids

What exactly is “free play”? Basically, free play describes unstructured, imaginative play time for children. It can be structured into the day but the play itself, while it may be organized by the children participating, is never organized by an adult.

Sports, for example, would not be considered free play if coached by adults with scheduled practices and games. Playing baseball in the backyard with friends, however, is considered free play. You probably engaged in free play as a child, but today’s kids may find it harder. There are many demands on modern children’s time, but allowing free play is important for children’s social development.

Some psychologists theorize that society itself depends on the ability of children and young adults to play. It is an essential part of learning cooperative behavior, and a society that knows how to cooperate is a more stable one. When children are taught competitive activities only, they do not develop the sense of interpersonal connectedness that is foundational to social structure.

Sharing
Children who play together freely learn to share. They come to understand that no one will play with them if they do not share, and they also learn how it feels when another child shares (or doesn’t) with them.

Conflict Resolution
Children who play together, especially in mixed-age groups, learn to resolve conflicts and to compromise. Their language skills are enhanced as they work out their playtime situations and scenarios.

Relationship
Learning how to function in a relationship is crucial to social development. Free play provides an opportunity for children to form friendships and learn how to give and take.

Imagination
Free play beckons children into the imaginary world. While it seems like something inherently childish, an active imagination can be beneficial in adulthood. Artists, writers, inventors, and others all rely on an active imagination to be successful in their respective fields.

Humor
A sense of humor can be a cushion for life’s tough blows. Free play is a means by which children tap into and develop their senses of humor. One of the best aspects of playing is the laughter it brings.

Psychiatric data points to a lack of childhood play as a factor in the formation of violent criminals. While certainly not every child who is denied free play will grow up to engage in criminal behavior, a large percentage of violent criminals were denied the opportunity for free play as children.

Who knew something so fun that comes so naturally could be so beneficial? In fact, it seems that free play is not only beneficial, but crucial.

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