Play Time Structure

Is it Important for a child to play? The obvious answer would be yes but what constitutes play? Free unstructured play? Structured play? What differences do these types of play involve and which is better? The question why should my child play and why can’t they do it alone comes to mind to many parents often or is sometimes not even thought about in their busy lives to keep the child provided for. It is often at the back of our minds that children enjoy themselves while making sure they have everything needed to survive is right at the forefront.

If parents book their kids so they are not use to free time, kids do not know how to use their unstructured free time when they have it. Kids that are use to always participating in an activity get use to not ever having to find something to do on their own. Kids going to school, then going to sports, and then coming home and doing homework never have time to think about what they could be doing if they did not have a busy life. If you hand a kid that is constantly on the move a ball, they might ask what they are supposed to do with it. If you hand a kid a ball that has free time, they will most likely find a game they can play using the ball. Also, kids who are never allowed free time to become bored are always focused on a structured

I believe it is more important to ensure that childern partocopate in organized activities. some of the reasons i feel this way are, it makes them responsible, helps them find out who they are, and it helps them become more social.

There are benefits for children who play in organized activites and in creatively activites. Really there is nothing wrong with either one. Many people have there own inpinion but there is no or right answer. What activety would you have your child or children do?

Michelle, great post! I agree, although children need the ability to explore and develop their motor skills as well as cognitive skills; they as well need guidance and structure with doing so. There are plenty of ways to give children the freedom and love they need, while doing it in a way that builds their character to be the best kind of person that they can be, with whatever life throws their way.

I am Kainan Ducote,and I beileve it is important that children are able to get both imanagintive and creative play. Reasoning for saying this is because with creative play it helps them learn how to provide for them selfs. Another reason is like the passage says "They learn to lead ,follow,problem solve,and negotiate." It is very important to know how to get along with others all threw life. It is also very important to know how to negotiate if you ask me. With these reasons it also helps toughen them up.

Children need something to do all day to stay active. Organized activities teach children the value of being on time. With creative play, children don't have to worry about being on time so they don't learn the responsibility of being on time. Sports teach children about practicing teamwork. Children

Some people think it's best to have their children's play organized. They say that it's better for them to play sports,

Starting off with why children should be in more organized activities is the technology that this age has already released. Every child in todays time has some form of technology that they're always looking into from a tablet, a phone, a laptop, or even just sitting inside looking a televison screen. All these forms of technology take away from the childs time to do anything else this is why having organized activities in their life can help them break away from such things. An example could be as simple as sports say instead of coming home from school and sitting on their phone the children are going to practice, games, or even scrimmages for their team. Thus this keeps them away from the electronics and placing them in the real world.

Allowing children to play creatively is also a good idea to some extent. Allowing kids to have too much creative play may

All though I know the importance of structured activites in my children's lives, I find it equally important to allow them time for themselves. I've found that creative play time is vital to

I believe that children should do some kind of activity in there free time.It will help them achieve there goal's,be more independant, learning how to use their skill's,to see exactly what there talent's are. It's good to get outside and get some excersise and get fresh air.Sport's is a good way to get the strength that you need. It's good for children to get outside and use there imagination's, to be themselve's.It also teaches children how to play well with other's when playing in a group.I agree that creative play is healthy for children,they get the exercise that they need,get to run around,play and have fun.Feeling better about themselve's.Doing activities will help teach children how to be

Experts believe that children thrive better when they are given rules to abide by. Having rules is important for children because these rules would give them a sense of security. Under the authoritative parenting style, the

While we all can agree that mathematic is crucial and a structured classroom curriculum to meet the demands of a global society are important, other life skills, which are also important, are provided in an environment where the child is free to direct his/her learning, which often relies heavily on play. In her book Theories of Childhood, Mooney (2013) wrote that Erik Erikson believed “if we encourage preschool children to use their energy in an active and involved way, their confidence will grow. Their competence will increase.” This means that recess and play time are critical to development.

I think it is important to provide children with free time to engage in imaginative and creative play while they are young. That should be the best times of there lifes. They should be able to have freedom and let there minds wonder off.