Play is a necessity for children, for them to grow, for them to develop so that they can enjoy their childhood. But it is also a necessity for adults, adults also enjoy (or should do) their free time, leisure time, other types of games. But play is undoubtedly a necessity that children should enjoy from the moment they arrive in this world.
Parents, educators and anyone who works with children should know what free play is and is not, since this type of game is necessary for children to enhance and develop their creativity, imagination and thinking. Although directed play is often necessary, the reality is that free play is also a necessity that must be taken into account.
Free play is an expression of freedom
The game is, above all, an expression of freedom. It is what one wants to do at the moment when one wants to face what one is obliged to do. The joy of the game is the ecstatic feeling of freedom. The game is not always accompanied by smiles and laughter, nor are smiles and laughter always signs of play. But the game is always accompanied by a feeling of: 'It's what I want to do right now.' Children who play feel that they are free and in control, not that they are the pawns in someone else's game.
When a child plays freely, they can choose what to play but also what not to play, and they will also direct their own actions during the game. Although playing always involves some kind of rules, it is the players who freely accept the rules, whether they change them or not… And furthermore, the players must agree to the changes. Free play with others is a democratic activity where everyone has an opinion, in social play (a game that involves more than one player), there must be a consensus in everyone's will.
In free play there are no pressures
A child who feels compelled or pressured to participate in an activity is not a player, he is a victim. The freedom to stop gambling is a democratic process that occurs in social free play. If one player tries to intimidate or dominate others, the real game is over. Players who want to keep playing must learn not to intimidate or dominate. Children who do not want to follow rules of the game should feel free to express their ideas to change the rules and that everyone agrees on the game. It is a way of working on empathy and assertiveness from a young age.
Children learn through play to be sensitive to the needs of others and strive to meet those needs. It is through social play that children learn, on their own, how to meet their own needs and at the same time, learn to meet the needs of others. This is perhaps the most important lesson that the children of any society can learn.
When an adult plays with children in their free play
Many adults try to control children's play. Adults can play with children and in some cases they can even be leaders in children's games, but this requires at least the same sensitivity that children themselves show to the needs and desires of all players of the same age.
Since adults are commonly viewed as authority figures, children often feel less able to play freely by disagreeing with proposed rules when one adult is guiding play than when another child is doing it. So the adult must have empathy to remember that he is playing with a developing child.
When the adults guide the game too much, for the children it ceases to be a free game. When a child feels coerced, the spirit of the game disappears and all the benefits of free play are over. Adult games that children direct but freely choose to play can be a great learning opportunity, but it can feel like a punishment for children who have not freely chosen to play that game.
The directed game
Directed play is also a good option for children's play, as long as they also have the opportunity to have time for free play.. Play is necessary for the development of children. In directed play, children also have the opportunity to learn respect for the rules, to follow a directed structure to reach an end. Where there are rules so that all players can have an equity before the game and enjoy. But in directed play, the rules cannot normally be changed and in this case, children should feel free to choose to play or not to play.
To play and have fun you must choose the game freely, even if it is a directed game. The games always have a structure with rules. The rules of the game must be respected and it is important to find balance and harmony between the players that the rules are respected by all. Rules are mental concepts that often require a conscious effort to take them into account and for the game to work.
As you can see, play is very important for the development of the child, but you have to differentiate between free play, directed play and when an adult plays with a child within free play. The little ones should feel free to express themselves, to understand themselves and others as well.. Happiness can be expressed through play, the little ones will express their freedom and show how they are and can learn great things both in individual play and in social play.