Having a personal passion for play as a means for learning, when I came across a recently published Scientific American article on the benefits of “free play” I thought it was worth sharing. Just before I get to that, many of the articles within my blog reflect my strong belief in structured activities such as games and simulations as a means for learning. However, what may not be as apparent is my equally strong belief in the power of unstructured - or free - play. So when I read this Scientific American article, I knew I had to share it with you.
While many games are well defined closed systems, free play provides opportunity for new information and interactions to enter the play system and be explored. This was a something I explored in my doctoral thesis taking Einstein’s Theory of Special Relativity as a specific example of the evolution of 20th Century physics. The kernel of the theory was derived from insights from dreams and creative imaginings, and one which ultimately founded a new concept of reality. For me this is the true power of free play — to creatively explore ideas, and it also highlights the how the products of play can generate new ontological insights through imagination and creativity. As noted in the article:
Certainly games with rules are fun and sources of learning experiences—they may foster better social skills and group cohesion, for instance, says Anthony D. Pellegrini, an educational psychologist at the University of Minnesota. But, Pellegrini explains, “games have a priori rules—set up in advance and followed. Play, on the other hand, does not have a priori rules, so it affords more creative responses.”
Some of the other key points of the Scientific American article :
unstructured, imaginative play is needed for the cognitive, emotional and social development of children
play may provide animals (including humans) with skills that will help them survive and reproduce
play is also critical for emotional health, possibly because it helps kids work through anxiety and stress
with free play, kids use their imagination and try out new activities and roles
play is a way in which children learn… and actually appears to make kids smarter
The article highlighted the importance of free play on human development on several levels — cognitive, emotional, social — and for developing creativity. Thinking creatively helps kids to come up with solutions to events, problems and experiences they encounter. It also reaffirmed the need for balancing free play activities with goal oriented activities such as games. And as I mentioned previously, beyond childhood, the products of play have the power to create new realities as observed in 20th Century physics.
Links
The Serious Need for Play (Scientific American)
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=the-serious-need-for-play
