The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) states that “Play is a critical component of the early childhood classroom. It is respected as a powerful integrator and generator of knowledge. Through play children develop socio-moral judgments, advance their social and language skills, elaborate upon their intellectual understandings, and assume personal responsibility for learning.”

Dr. Walter Drew and Dr. Marcia Nell, of the Institute for Self Active Education believe that “Self active play (free play) is a process that begins with an open mind. …simply fiddling around with open-ended materials, such as blocks, Styrofoam packing, cardboard tubes, colorful plastic caps, fabric, yarn, stones, rocks… allows the mind to focus and inspires imagination. The non-representational, un-prescribed natures of these types of materials intrigue our imagination and tap into a basic human need to express thoughts and feelings through play… (Thus) play becomes a powerful medium for self discovery.”

Infants: What’s Inside the Box? - Cut a slot in the plastic top of a round oatmeal box so that plastic milk caps can be easily inserted. Encourage the child to put the milk caps in the slot. Help, if they are having trouble. When all the milk caps are in, shake the box and ask, “Listen, what’s inside the box?” Take off the lid, and look inside, then say, “You did it! You put all the caps inside.” This activity builds eye hand coordination.

Toddlers: Nature’s Paintbrushes – Take toddlers outside to collect natural materials to use to paint with. They can collect long feathers, pine branches with needles attached, cattails with long stems, and fern leaves to dip into paint and then paint on paper.

Preschoolers: Mixed Material Collages – These can be made of a variety of materials like buttons, carpet samples, rocks, colored cotton balls, fabric scraps, feathers, flowers (real, artificial or dried), lace, leaves, and seashells. Young children learn respect and to value play through meaningful interaction with their environment.

Through the power of free play young children learn to work though their internal and interpersonal conflicts and they become more able to pursue the skills necessary for later learning. Early childhood educator can use play-based teaching, which includes expanding upon the interests of children and then developing a curriculum that emerges from their creative free play.

“Research shows that play is a basic need - a biological requirement for normal growth and development.” says Stuart Brown, president of the National Institute for Play and author of Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul. Adding, “Plays helps learning, memory, and well-being. It sculpts responsive, socially adept, and flexible brains. Play can make us smarter and more adaptable all our lives.”

“Whoever wants to understand much - must play much.” (Dr. Gottfried Benn)