Unstructured Play

Child-development specialists describe unstructured play as essential to children's growth and crucial in cultivating creativity and imagination. Unstructured play also has a role in expanding intellectual, emotional, and social skills. In other words play with no rules, little or no adult direction and free for the children to go in whatever direction they desire, packs a powerful developmental punch.

I read a great book about child brain development a few months ago (my kids were thrilled that I was 'learning how to be a better mom) and it had a few chapters on the power of unstructured play. There have been studies to show how great it is for a child to be able to explore and discover the world through unstructured, undirected play. This is how they learn about reality and the real world, how to problem solve, make decisions, get along with others etc. There are a few elementary schools that have implemented 2 hours of unstructured play a day for grades K-3 each day, as part of their regular curriculum. The children are given an initial idea/direction such as 'let's play fireman and save a family who's house is on fire.' Then the teacher is there in the background in case she is needed but largely stays out of the way.

I used to be of the mindset that my kids need me to direct them and be involved. Yes I love to play with my kids but I've learned to be a follower in their play, not a leader. I allow them to take one idea nad let it go in any direction for as long as they'd like. I hate to wake a sleeping child, and I've learned to try very hard to not disturb a playing child either :)