Our philosophy is that, although there are many ways to play and learn, free unstructured play is one of the most valuable sources of learning, and that children need space and freedom to plan ideas, to consider alternative ideas, to choose an idea to act on, to reflect on that choice, and to adapt their choices or ideas with each subsequent experience. These critical thinking and problem-solving skills are the skills our children need to deal with the onslaught of information and technology in this digital age. They will need to sort, categorize, recognize patterns and sequences, fix problems, be resilient, communicate their ideas, and collaborate with others.
Unstructured play is important because:
-
Play is important to healthy development of the brain
Undirected play helps children learn how to work collaboratively, to share, to negotiate, to resolve conflicts, and learn self-advocacy skills
When play is child-driven, children practice decision-making skills, move at their own pace, discover areas of interest on their own, and ultimately engage fully in the passions they wish to pursue
Play offers parents a wonderful opportunity to engage fully with their children
Play allows for peer interactions which is an important component of social-emotional learning
Free, child-driven, creative play protects against the effects of pressure and stress
Share
