The Issue
Why ‘unstructured play’?
“Nature can be the clump of trees… or the ravine by the
house. In terms of biodiversity, those places many not be that
important, but to a child they can be a whole universe, where they can
discover a sense of wonder. That is essential to our humanity, and we
can’t deny that to future generations.”
— Richard Louv
Research shows that unstructured time in nature is critical to developing children's intellectual, social, emotional and creative capacities. Structured activities such as sports, scouts, field trips, and curriculum-driven school gardens play a valuable role, but they cannot replace the brain development and emotional growth that occurs during self-directed play. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), undirected play is essential because it “allows children to learn how to work in groups, to share, to negotiate, to resolve conflicts, and to learn self-advocacy skills. When play is allowed to be child-driven, children practice decision-making skills, move at their own pace, discover their own areas of interest, and ultimately engage fully in the passions they wish to pursue.”
