A group of children are gathering blocks, silks, and long strands of knitted fabric. It’s February, and today, in the Kindergarten, children are celebrating Christmas. They’ve adorned a small table with garlands of yarn for the Christmas tree and have created presents by wrapping wooden blocks in silk and tying the knitted strands in a bow. The presents are placed carefully by the foot of the tree while other children cook the Christmas breakfast. After having their meal, they take turns exchanging presents and expressing gratitude and joy for what they’ve received from their friends. This is what self-directed play looks like.
In early childhood, self-directed play is
imperative. An opportunity for indoor and outdoor play is offered each day in a
Waldorf kindergarten and allows children to explore their bodies, environments, and imaginations.
The young child is constantly taking in new sensory
experiences. Play is an activity that allows them to process these experiences.
By allowing the child to freely enter their own space for imagination and
creativity, we are allowing them to make sense of the world and to explore new
ideas and concepts.
Self-directed play is essential. This means that the child
is creating their own play experience without the direct influence,
interference, or suggestion from adults. Children benefit from this form of
play because they can synthesize their own ideas, thoughts, and feelings with
their observations of the world around them. Adults help to facilitate self-directed
play through seasonal songs and verses, open-ended play materials offered, and purposeful
work such as cooking, sewing, and cleaning. This allows the child to expand
their repertoire of play and thus their understanding of the world.
Open-ended toys allow children to deeply engage in this type
of play. Board games or toys that have clear rules, explanations, and
expectations hinder the child’s ability to create from within. A child can use
a single block to be infinite things but can only use a firetruck to be a
firetruck. Using couch cushions to build forts and houses, however, offers
endless opportunities for learning.
Further Reading:
Supporting Self-directed Play in Steiner/Waldorf Early Childhood Education
On the Play of the Child
What Do Early-Learners Need Most? Play!
Health benefits from free play confirmed by research
Playing Around in Science: How Self-Directed Inquiry Benefits the Whole Child
