Children Who Play More Do Better in School

Many of us know play is important, fundamental, a necessity....but it can be hard to explain why. This is because play affects the growth and development of children in a very complex and profound way. There are also many different types of play so play doesn't always look the same. A child may be playing and we might not even recognize it. This is because play is an activity that often requires only the imagination and perhaps a few props from the environment, and the props don't have to be toys.

Most importantly, play is child driven. According to Dr. Peter Gray author of "Free to Learn" Children choose to play and they choose what to play. The nature of the activity gives the child pleasure. If there is an outcome or product, it takes second seat to the enjoyment felt during the process. Play is not random or chaotic. The children set rules in their mind about how the play will go and what the rules or structure apply. Play engages children's imaginations as they are free to deviate from reality as little or as much as they desire. Much of this structure is in the form of private speech, which is what children say or think to themselves during play. Private speech helps children practice self-regulation. The more play opportunities, the more private speech, the more practice they get self-regulating. Private speech is greatest in imaginative play and least during structured play activities. Play keeps children's minds in an active-alert state, allowing active learning to take place through the process.

Play helps grow the frontal lobe which is responsible for executive function tasks. Executive function involves working memory, mental flexibility and self-control. Children who engage in more play have better self control, including control over their emotions and behavior.  University of Michigan research psychologist Paul Pintrich found that strong self-regulation skills in students were a better indicator of academic success than IQ.

More play = more self-control, need less discipline, better academic achievement
Less play  = less self-control, need more discipline, poorer academic achievement

NPR has a series of news reports on the importance of play. We really enjoyed Old-Fashioned Play Builds Serious Skills - one of the most concrete ways of presenting the importance of free play we have come across recently and packed in less than 8 minutes.