The Importance of Free Play

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The Importance of Free Play

January 17, 2023

Dear Maria,

There’s a lot of talk these days about the benefits of free play. But can we justify spending school time on free play instead of academics?

Sincerely,

Concerned

Dear Concerned,

If you look at nature, play is everywhere. All animals play, especially when they’re young. A fundamental biological insight is that if an activity is widespread and universal, you can be sure that it serves an important function.

Play creates great opportunities for learning social skills, observing verbal and nonverbal cues, and developing gross and fine motor skills. Play feels inherently meaningful, it gives you a sense of agency and belonging, relieves stress, and, of course, it’s fun. As play researcher Stuart Brown writes: “Here are just a few of its benefits, these now being more and more objectively solidified by reputable scientific research: trust, mutual attunement, empathy, resilience, adaptability, innovation, creativity, optimism, communal belonging, immune system benefits, sustained intrinsic motivation and the persistent desire to acquire mastery, and more.”

We adults would be hard pressed to come up with activities that pay such diverse dividends, and sometimes our responsibility is just to make room for such play. Play is an activity where you’re free to quit or keep playing, and an activity children choose on their own. These conditions are important to create the opportunities mentioned above. Play organized by adults can also be useful for some kinds of learning, but it would rarely be as valuable and meaningful for children.

The need for play is not something just young children have. The games change, but older children still find play meaningful and stimulating, and often a profound relief from stress. Combine play and time outdoors and you’ll have the best way of resetting both mind and body.

Here are three articles to read more about play:

https://hechingerreport.org/play-is-crucial-for-middle-schoolers-too/

https://www.playcore.com/news/rough-and-tumble-play-is-it-necessary-part-2

https://hechingerreport.org/want-resilient-and-well-adjusted-kids-let-them-play/

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