Yes: Let the Children Play!

Why it’s important NOT to interrupt children’s imaginative play.

As homeschoolers, we have the freedom to allow–even encourage–what we know to be best for our children. Sometimes it can be difficult to discern what is best; or more accurately, it can be difficult to trust what we inherently know in our hearts to be true.

I recently was approached by two different homeschooling friends, one new to this journey and one a veteran homeschooling mom, and asked about play. It’s that question I’m certain we’ve all asked ourselves: should I interrupt my kids’ play so we can get to some academics?

My answer is always this: no. Emphatically, whole-heartedly, with gusto: No!

But Kellie! When will we get to their math? When will they learn to write? How will we ever get around to doing that cool science experiment or reading that amazing book or or or or….

It will happen.

And if it doesn’t, I always ask myself this question: what, ultimately, do I want for my child? Do I want them to grow their creativity and resilience and autonomy? Or do I want them to memorize their times tables? Do I pray that my children grow up to be both interesting and interested? Or do I hope that they remember the parts of speech? Do I want my children to be curious and innovative…or do I want them to be good at following directions?

Obviously, I do want all of these things for my children. These are not truly either/or questions. But if I had to choose only one side of these questions, I would want them to grow to be curious, resilient, interesting, innovative adults who are able to seek and find. If they are these things, then when they come across a challenge (multiplication, grammar, hypothesizing), they will have the self-reliance to know how to learn.

Okay, okay…but my kids are just running around whacking each other with foam swords. How is that fostering creativity?

I encourage you to take a step back, take a long slow breath or two, and truly listen and watch from afar while your children play.

The stories they weave, the interpersonal relationships they navigate (both real and imagined), the challenges and solutions they create…it can be astounding to witness! That imaginary play is the fabric that bridges the child to the well-balanced and interesting adult they will become.

Now, I’m not suggesting all-out anarchy. There will be plenty of times when you feel entirely justified in gathering your children to attend to chores, lessons, etc. But when you experience those crossroads–and you will–when you know that you have a choice to either drag your children away from their play or allow the “schoolwork” to wait so they can dive deeper into their story…please choose to let them play.

Flexibility is a great gift of homeschooling. We can create natural rhythms in our day, but even those will be disrupted more often than most of our adult personalities would prefer. But if you pay close attention to your children’s natural rhythms, you will know that at some point, there will be a lull in that play. Or there will be an argument and the children will scatter. Or someone will get hungry. And you can use that natural lull to gently move them in the direction you have written down in your handy planner or sketched with hope on the ticker-tape to-do list in your mind.

When we allow ourselves to honor our children’s creative endeavors, we are not just giving them perceived value. We are also allowing them to do the work of childhood, which is to process so much information through the active brain-building power of play.

Don’t believe me? Here are some great articles to back me up! 😉

• Advice from a veteran homeschool mom.
• A feast from the Journal of Unschooling and Alternative Learning.
• An excellent list of the benefits of play.
• The consequences of play deprivation.
• Beyond imaginary play: the brilliance behind the creation of imaginary worlds.

So what do you think? Have you come across this question in your own homeschooling journey? Do you let your children play? Let me know in the comments!