The Importance of Free Play

We don't do very much structured play around here. The boys don't go to any music or art classes, no sports activities (at least yet), and we really don't play by any book or rules. There's something so magical about the art of free play, with seeing their imagination come to life and the wheels turning in their little heads. We've found that if we simply provide time and materials, the boys will continually amaze us with their versatility in play.


This isn't to say that free play isn't also a time for learning and greater understanding of the world around them! For L, sensory play is some of the best ways to introduce him to new textures, smells, tastes, and consequences (when he rips paper, he can feel the paper's texture, hear the ripping sound, and even discover what different papers taste like!)

L having sensory time with corn meal. 

For B, his unstructured free play has taken more definition as he's grown. While he used to depend on us for help to initiate play time, now he is content to find and use toys in new and imaginative ways!  He is absolutely interested in trucks, cars, or anything with wheels so it's not a complete surprise that his free play time consists  of using his toy trucks and cars or by manipulating other toys to 'act' like trucks. 

Much of his artwork has a definite 'vehicle' bent to it as well.

I find it easier to allow children to have unstructured free play than worrying about different activities and outings designed to 'enrich' their minds. All we have to do is ensure that our toy box is filled with different types of toys and household objects and let them loose!

A laundry basket? Nope, it's a ship!

Many different shapes, textures, and objects keep this little boy interested.

Then again, there is always the universal constant: Buy your child a really great, interesting (and sometimes expensive) toy and what will they play with instead? 

Yep, the box it came in!

Happy playing.