What is free play?
Free play is where children choose exactly what they want to do. They set their own agenda and follow all their own interests. Adults are there to supervise, but they don’t offer any direction for play or try to encourage a particular activity.
Instead, those supervising the play take cues from the child. Of course, there are still boundaries in place for the play, as we don’t want children taking extreme risks that pose a danger to their safety. But, in free play, children choose what they want to do and adults are there to support with resources as necessary.
Why is it important?
Free play allows children to develop as individuals. They’re encouraged to consider their own interests, follow their passions and develop as individuals. When free playing with others, they build their social bonds and advance their communication skills.
Children learn how best to interact with others and begin to get an understanding of social rules, including turn taking, sharing and negotiation. They learn to recognise emotional responses in others and begin to understand how to balance their emotions.