Benefits of Free Play

Play is a very important aspect of learning. During play children can learn about themselves, other people, and the rules of society.

(taken from wwwcuddleschildcare.com)

The following are some benefits of play according to psychologists and educationalists like Piaget and Vygotsky.

Vygotsky & Play

Piaget & Play

In general, the following is a good list of the benefits of free play:

• Develops schema
• Relieves stress
• Builds relationships
• Helps them use their five senses
• Helps them use and develop their different intelligences
• Regulate emotions
• Stimulates creativity (my truck can fly!)
• Understand consequences for inappropriate behavior (Children say what they think))
• Boosts confidence
• Improves memory
• Improves language through talking and debating.
• Improves gross and fine motor skills by using muscles and hands to run, jump, grasp, climb and manipulate toys.

In short, play is a way for children to create their own world and function according to their own rules and develop socially, physically and cognitively. Wow! Play is a great thing for kids. When we look at play we can see play with the following characteristics according to Tina Bruce Author of the book, Learning through Play".

12 Features of Play

Feature 1 - Using first-hand experience: This means learning by doing. For example, children can learn that if they make a house of blocks and stack the blocks too high, the house will fall down. Children will learn and make the base of the house wider to assure the house will stay up.

Feature 2 - Making up rules: This means children make rules to the activity or game. We can see this when children play house. Sometimes girls will make up the rule: "no boys aloud". Or, the boys will make a rule when they play the game 'tag' that if you tag someone you have to do it with both hands, not just one! Children always argue about rules.

Feature 3 - Making props: Children create things to help them play. They make hats, costumes, small houses -- anything that helps make the play more real for them.

Feature 4 - Making a choice to play willingly: This means that children want to play and are not being made to play by an authority figure like teacher or parent.

Feature 5 - Rehearsing for the future: This means that children role-play for the future. One time I was watching my daughter play in the park with her friends. They decided to play 'doctor', they took turns being sick and the doctor would operate.

Feature 6 - Pretending: This means that children pretend to be something they are not -- a fireman, policeman.

Feature 7 - Playing alone: Some children play alone, and this can be very rewarding and fun for a child. My daughter Emily has always been good at playing elaborate games on her own. She used to play with her Littlest Pet Shop figures and would have them talking and having great adventures together.

Feature 8 -Playing together: Children often play together to have more fun.

Feature 9 - Having a personal agenda: Often children will have a plan and then execute this plan. For example, if some students go to the beach and start playing, they decide they want to build a sandcastle. This is their goal. Or they look at blocks and choose to build a skyscraper. This is good for future life. We make plans and do the plans successfully.

Feature 10 - Being deeply involved: This means that a child get so involved that they really can't be distracted. My son gets like this with his train set. He is so focused that I can call his name and he does not answer. He loves his train play.

Feature 11 - Trying out recent learning: This means that they learned something like how to count or write letters and they incorporate this into the game.

Feature 12 - Co-coordinating ideas, feelings,and relationships: Like life, play requires coordination of emotions and feelings to make sense of the world. Sadness, guilt, anger, happiness, frustration...all need to be coordinated and understood to maintain relationships with family and friends. In one fun play session, children may experience many different emotions in a very short period of time.

Activity: Watch this short video of Ethan playing.

What is he learning? What features apply to this video?