http://www.freeimages.com/photo/1269461
Photo by Martin Boose, used via a Creative Commons license

Free Play versus Structured Play

http://www.freeimages.com/photo/1269461
Photo by Martin Boose, used via a Creative Commons license

Being a parent often feels like you’re executing a grand juggling act – and I’m not just talking your coffee, keys and phone with their juice box and the 17 toys they need to bring to the playground. You’re constantly absorbing new knowledge about all the aspects of raising a small human. Hearing about the best ways to do this but don’t you dare do this. Creating meals that are nutritional for the pickiest critics, monitoring their screen time, researching the most “college-application-friendly” extracurricular activities, all while trying not to meddle enough so that you hear the tell-tale groan of “MoooOOOOmmmm.”

Recently I’ve seen articles popping up about balancing free play versus structured play.

It turns out letting your monkeys into the backyard to roam and swing from the trees is still a wonderful way for them to express themselves, but that kind of play needs to be offset with some structure. The justification for the balance is that children do eventually grow up into adults and they need to be able to one day hold down a job that isn’t just throwing a stick at a tree and laughing hysterically.

With that in mind, here are three ideas to help your children get the best of both play worlds.

  1. On an outing to the beach, write a scavenger hunt list for each child so that they have to find specific objects. As they excitedly check off each item, ask them questions about what they’ve found. Make it silly. (“Do you think an octopus can scratch 8 itches at one time?”)
  2. As the next holiday approaches, break out the crafting supplies and have a three step activity planned. Once those steps are followed, pop open up some new supplies (fancy stickers or colourful feathers) and challenge them to make a custom creation to pin up or hang in the windows. Make sure they autograph the back.
  3. Bust out the Lego (watch your feet) and ask the children to create a set structure using a certain amount of pieces and colours. Praise them profusely once finished and then with a sweeping gesture, tell them it’s time to build a castle for the finest King/Princess/Dinosaur. Watch their eyes light up and hands furiously start to work.

When a child is engaged in free play they let their imaginations soar and their curiosity guide them. Adding in subtle structure by making suggestions ensures they are not ripped from their fun flow, but rather their little brains become trained to listen, problem solve, and follow instructions.

Look at it like this – one day they will live alone and can eat Jell-o for dinner (just kidding!), but they will also have the skills to put together the assemble-it-yourself table to eat it at.

Guest post by Brooke Takhar, a mom living in the Lower Mainland who blogs at www.misteenussr.com