Does your child have time to play on their own terms? Giving them time to ‘free play’ is crucial especially in their early developmental years.
But what is free play in the first place and why is this so important?
Free play is a play that does not have any intervention or external goals set by adults. In free play, a child’s choice is integral. A child can choose what they want to do, how they want to do it, or stop and try something else.
Certainly, you may already be giving your children time to ‘free play’ on their off time or when you want to take a break from childcare. Perhaps there is even a chance for them to do this at their weekend daycare in Irvine.
But taking ‘free play’ seriously, as in choosing a preschool program that integrates this in the curriculum is necessary. Years of doing just this in our childcare center in Irvine, California at Little Leaderz Day Care, Inc. have shown us a marked difference in children’s development.
Among the advantages we have observed with this integration in our day care in Irvine include the following:
- Free play allows them to make their own experiences of the world, sparking their creativity and planting the seeds of self-assurance.
- Free play encourages cognitive development and problem-solving skills.
- Free play encourages physical development as they take on the different activities of their choices.
- Free play improves social skills as they are left to decide on their own.