True free play includes any kind of unstructured activity that encourages your child to use their imagination and creativity, such as playing with dolls or building with blocks. It does not include playing with most electronics like video games. Let’s dive in and learn more about importance and benefits of free everyday play in an early childhood!

Kids have become so overscheduled that they are slowly running out of time to just be kids. School and homework take up a great deal of their time. Then all the extras are added on . . . music lessons, sports teams, dance classes, and academic clubs consume hours of their day and week. At the end of the day, do your kids have any time to just play with their friends in the neighborhood or do other things they want?
If not, it may be time to think about dialing back their schedule to add in some free play time.
Benefits of free play
Well, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, in addition to being important to healthy brain development, the benefits of free play include:
- encouraging kids to interact with the world around them
- allowing kids to use their creative intuition and develop their imagination
- teaching kids to work together, so they learn to share and resolve conflicts as a group
- helping kids get over their insecurities and build their confidence
- helping kids practice decision-making and problem-solving skills
It is important to note that this research is guided towards unstructured, child-driven play. It is not the kind of play that is structured and controlled by adults and it doesn’t include passive play, like sitting in front of a video game, computer, or TV.
Even though free play isn’t controlled by adults, that doesn’t mean it should be unsupervised play, especially if they are playing outside.
The neighborhood kids playing together in the backyard would be a good example of unstructured free play. However, playing soccer on a team with a coach would be more structured play time. Any type of active free play is a good way to help your kids get their physical activity requirements each day.
If you are always running from one activity to another and your kids are overscheduled, it will eventually cause them stress and anxiety. Consider cutting back a little on structured activities and adding in some free play. It will help them release tension and stress, making them more able to focus when they need to.
WHY IS UNSTRUCTURED PLAY GOOD FOR YOUR CHILD?
Growing up, did you enjoy sunny days running around the neighborhood, playing with friends and making up games to play? Maybe you built forts, practiced skimming rocks across the pond or caught fireflies. Children need open-ended, supervised, time where they can enjoy some independence, learn to problem solve on their own and build their imagination.

Unstructured play is so beneficial to our kid’s health and learning process. Here are a few good reasons your child should enjoy some quality unstructured play time:
- Children need to be more physically active. Research shows that children have become too sedentary. In addition to 20-30 minutes of structured physical activity every day, children should enjoy at least an hour of unstructured activity daily. If they are able to get more, all the better.
- Unstructured play teaches decision making and memory skills. Children create their own games and develop rules for the imaginary scenarios they create. They then need to apply the rules to the scenarios as they play along. They also need to regulate each other’s behavior. This teaches them to make well thought out decisions, remember the rules they create and know how to properly apply them.
- Social skills are enhanced. Children can learn so many different social skills from unstructured activities. If they have opportunities to work together towards a goal, they learn friendship skills like teamwork, problem-solving, care and cooperation, all of which are critical skills for school and life.
- Unstructured play is important to healthy development of the brain. Studies show that children who have to figure problems out on their own become more independent and are better able to problem solve larger problems as they get older.
- It increases resilience. Free play teaches children to be competitive, to learn from failure and it encourages them to take risks.
- With unstructured play, children can move at their own pace, discover areas of interest on their own, and discover passions they may wish to pursue.
- Play offers parents a great opportunity to fully engage their child’s imagination and creativity. Ask your child to create a new game and teach it to the family.
- Free play teaches communication skills. Children learn to communicate with each other through playful interactions. Play time allows them to learn communication skills in a safe and natural way.
- Unstructured play time allows your child to be mindful and even meditative, protecting them from the effects of pressure and stress.
HOW TO ENCOURAGE FREE PLAY?

Research shows that Free Play is very beneficial to your child’s learning, development and health. As parents, it falls on us to encourage free play at home so that our children can learn and grow. Here are some great ideas to get you started and encourage free play for your kids:
- SEND THEM OUTSIDE. Kids today are spending too little time outdoors. They plant themselves in front of computers, television and cellphones instead of enjoying some fresh air. Fresh air encourages them to get creative and use their imaginations. Give your child specific “outside” toys like balls, garden tools, hula hoops and sidewalk chalk, then send them outside to see what creative ideas they can come up with to fill their time.
- GIVE THEM A DEDICATED SPACE FOR PLAY. Show your kids that you are serious about free play time by dedicating an area in your home for it. Your kids should know that they are allowed to create messes in this space and it should encourage the imagination with toys they love.
- MAKE OPEN-ENDED TOYS AVAILABLE. Give your child tools to create their own toys and use their imagination. Large boxes, sofa cushions and blankets allow them to create their own fun. And you already have these tools around the house. You can also bring in things like blocks, balls, and dolls.
- LIMIT THE NUMBER OF TOYS YOU PROVIDE. Too many toys will put your child’s thoughts and ideas into a state of overwhelm and they won’t be able to be as creative. By limiting the number of toys available, you’re encouraging your child’s creative and decision-making processes.
- JUST LET THEM BE. It can be hard to do, but you just have to give them space to let their imagination take hold, without interference from you. Let them learn how to improve their ideas by figuring things out on their own.
- LIMIT SCREEN TIME. Kids are addicted to computer and cellphone screens younger than ever before. It’s easy to just pass them a cellphone to keep them quiet and still, but this doesn’t teach them how to interact and communicate. Limit screen time to just two hours or less a day and your kids will start to transform into more imaginative and creative beings.
- ALLOW BOREDOM. You can’t encourage free play when your kids are bombarded with activities and technology. Allow some time for boredom. It forces creativity and teaches children how to entertain themselves.
MAKING AGE APPROPRIATE RULES FOR FREE PLAY
Play is not just a way for children to fill their time. Play is like “work” for children. Through play, they build the foundation for learning later on as they solve problems and begin to understand themselves and the world around them.
For young children, “play” includes activities that are fun and interesting; including quiet play, creative play, active play, and games.
With structured play, there are rules or a specific way of doing things. For instance, card games and board games are examples of structured play. But unstructured play includes activities like playing dress-up, playing with dolls, building with blocks, and riding trikes.
Children’s play usually has more to do with learning about the world around them than the people they play with. Young children are natural explorers when it comes to their environment. As their actions change and they interact with toys, children are able to discover what their own muscles can do. They also have the opportunity to learn about gravity and other principles of the physical world.

Here are some guidelines for age appropriate free play that will help you guide your children:
- INFANTS AND TODDLERS
Babies learn to play through their own actions and by interacting with adults who talk, sing, and laugh with them, and help them explore the world around them. Parents can play peek-a-boo, dance with babies in their arms, and crawl on the floor with them. Babies learn language from parents when they smile and talk to the baby during playful interactions such as handing a toy back and forth. This give-and-take is the foundation for oral language development by teaching that conversation involves responses to the words and actions of others.
Babies can benefit from floor time as they learn to safely roll around and explore. Once a baby begins to crawl, toys that can be pushed or rolled across the floor encourage physical activity and interaction with other people.
Toddlers continue to develop both small and large motor skills. They enjoy manipulating objects including putting things into a container and dumping them back out. They can also learn from messy play with water, sand, and play dough. Playful art activities support fine motor skills and encourage children’s creativity. They are able to start using large paint brushes, washable (nontoxic) paints, and crayons meant for beginners. Toddlers do require close supervision!
Toddlers also need opportunities to use their large muscles. Bouncing, rolling and throwing balls or making a fort out of a cardboard box are all great ways for them to learn how their large muscles work. Outside, they can play with riding toys and use toddler-sized playground equipment with supervision.
- PRESCHOOLERS
Preschool children’s activities usually build on the experiences they enjoyed as toddlers. They have better developed motor and social skills and can enjoy more active, supervised play.
Preschool-age children can use crayons, pencils and paints, safe scissors, and paste or glue better than toddlers as their muscle skills are more developed. They tend to be increasingly confident about their physical abilities including running, jumping, climbing, and riding tricycles.
Many preschoolers love to pretend and are able to play together. Puppets and other props can be used for role playing and storytelling. Imaginative play helps them act out their interests and desires. Preschoolers should have access to books and should enjoy some story telling time to expand their imaginations.
OPEN-ENDED TOYS THAT ENCOURAGE FREE PLAY
Free play time helps your child build their imagination and creativity as well as building important social skills. It also helps to reduce anxiety and stress. These fun toys will help your child’s imagination blossom:
Mini Animal Figurines

Probably the best (and cheapest!) investment into toys for my toddler was this set of mini animal figurines. From using them in different sensory bins to using them in different settings and combinations with other toys, there is no end to how kids can use them! Most surely great choice to add to must-have toys for unstructured play. Find it here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
Disney Princess Dress Up Trunk

This 21-piece set is perfect for playing princess! Dress up as Belle, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White with matching jewelry and accessories. The decorated trunk becomes a beautiful storage trunk for all of your Princess dress up items. Find it here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
Superhero Dress Up Costumes

Superman, Batman, Spiderman, Flash and Captain America are all in this dress up kit with satin capes and masks. Your child will enjoy hours of fun pretending to be their favorite superhero. Find it here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
Doctor Role Play Set

What child doesn’t enjoy playing doctor and giving their favorite stuffed animal an exam? The set includes everything your child needs to spur imaginative play. It includes play stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, hearing tester, syringe, scissors, tweezers, rolling forehead thermometer, reflex hammer, otoscope, eye cover, tongue depressors, bottles, ID badge, activity cards, and more! Find it here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
Sit-To-Stand Ultimate Alphabet Train

This push-pull toy is designed to grow with your child. It can be used as a floor toy, a ride-on toy and even transforms into a walker. There are ten activities to keep your child busy and engaged. It includes a walkie-talkie and number pad to introduce numbers and counting. Find it here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
Creative Brick Box

This Lego set will keep your child’s imagination working overtime. In addition to building blocks for them to create whatever they can dream of, there are also windows, toy eyes, 18 tires and toy wheel rims that can be placed on a green baseplate for kids to role play; plus the container can be used as toy storage. Find it here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
Play Kitchen

This modern styled toy kitchen is a great choice for budding future chefs. It is a sturdy, well constructed kitchen with a sink faucet that lights up and makes a dripping noise, burners that light and make a boiling sound (with a switch to turn off if you want silent play and to preserve the battery), and ice that falls through the dispenser. It has plenty of storage space for all the accessories kids will use on daily basis for pretend play cooking! Find it here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
What else you need to know?
- Tips for Raising an Independent Toddlers
- Rainbow Quotes about the Importance of Play in an Early Childhood (free printable)

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