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Children at Play Network

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What is free play?

  • What is free play?
  • Benefits of Play
  • The Language of Play
  • Play is Important
  • Free Play Days at Bernheim and the Community
  • Hosting Your Own Free Play Day

Play is how children experience their world. Play is how children learn. But not all play is the same. Much of what children are involved in today is directed play  - play that focuses on rules and and tells a child how to play. Organized sports, even traditional playground equipment, tell a child how to play. Free play allows the player freedom to play however they choose.

Free play is:

  • Freely chosen
  • Personally directed
  • Intrinsically motivated
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