The Link Between Free Play and Success in Life

The Link Between Free Play and Success in Life

February 04, 2016 0 Comments

The Link Between Free Play and Success in Life | Child1st Publications

"Children today are cossetted and pressured in equal measure. Without the freedom to play they will never grow up"
-Peter Gray

A few days ago I wrote a blog about my own childhood. I wrote about how first-hand experiences teach unforgettably and how much a child can learn through participating with adults in the running of the home. Far more valuable lessons are learned about life and how to be successful in life through this sort of life. I was so lucky!

When I was in the classroom, I had students who were tired, stressed, bored, unable to think and reason. Who had a hard time being patient and negotiating with their peers. For all the pressure in school to improve, their level of learning did not rise.

And I've had principals who felt that in order to improve scores for the school we needed to reduce recess and free time to nearly nothing. Even PE fell under the ax, as did music, computer lab, math club, etc. Even after school tutoring sessions were added. I taught in an after school session... once. Never again! My kids were exhausted, brain dead, and we made no gains. It was not because the children didn't have the natural ability to learn, it was that they were already missing out on the very experiences that would have helped them learn.

On to the good stuff

I just read an amazing article by Peter Gray called "Children are Suffering a Deficit of Play." Peter Gray is a psychologist and research professor at Boston College. He writes the Freedom to Learn blog, and is the author of Free to Learn (2013). I want you to take the time to read what he has to share with us.

And when you have read that, read another article by him called "Give Childhood Back to the Children. He tells the truth, folks.

Before you go, consider making a checklist of activities so you can log the types of activities your child engages in and how much time he or she spent on each type of activity. It might be an encouragement to see how your child is spending his or her time, or it might provide an alert to help you move towards offering more unstructured time in the week.

We all want the very best for our children as we prepare them for life. Ironically, instead of pressuring more and more, we should be letting them play freely more and more.






Also in Outdoor/Free Play

Summer Learning Loss: Everyday Learning Opportunities!
Summer Learning Loss: Everyday Learning Opportunities!

June 02, 2022 0 Comments

You're exhausted. You're ready to take a break, and you deserve it. As we enter the summer months most parents and educators are thinking about their upcoming vacations, or finding a way to relax after the school year. While relaxation is crucial, so is making sure your child doesn't forget the lessons they learned during the schoolyear. Research indicates that your child could lose as much as one month's worth of school year learning over the summer. So our focus turns to creative ways to prevent learning loss during summer break. 

View full article →

Activities and Games That Will Keep Kids Learning All Summer | Child1st Publications
Activities and Games That Will Keep Kids Learning All Summer

February 04, 2019 0 Comments

Resting up is important, and I'd be the first to encourage kids to play all summer. So rather than missing out on the vigorous exercise kids desperately need, let's go outside to keep building those vital brain connections. This summer, let’s keep the learning going, and how about making it fun at the same time?

View full article →

16 Reasons Why Free Play Will Help Your Child | Child1st Publications
16 Reasons Why Free Play Will Help Your Child

February 04, 2016 0 Comments

Free play will actually help children think better, process information better, and thus their learning abilities will improve.

View full article →