Why Is Open-ended Play Important For Children

The child has the chance to play as they want and not as an adult wants them to.

WHAT IS OPEN-ENDED PLAY?

Open-ended play allows children to express their creativity freely. This kind of play allows your child endless possibilities during playtime. There are no instructions, rules for children to follow. Unlike closed-ended games and activities, there is no “right” answer or “right” way to complete and finish the project. During open-ended play, children have the ability to make their own decisions and fully engage their creativity and imagination. Engaging your child in open-ended play is easy. Open-ended materials and toys are non-descript items that a child can play with freely.

What are Open Ended play Materials

Open ended materials enables children to play freely. They are objects that have no rules to follow, use or function. Raw materials that can be used to build or to create or to combine to make something new as long as it’s safe and won’t hurt them. Anything that doesn’t dictate how your child should play is perfect.

Best Open-ended Play ideas:

• Magnetic tiles
• Loose parts
• Wooden pegs
• Cardboard boxes
• Playdough/Clay
• Sand
• Building Blocks
• Art & craft supplies

“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all”

Open-ended play is essential for early childhood development

As parents, we always want the best future for our children, and much of that future is developed in early childhood. We want our children to grow up and be able to solve problems on their own, to be able to make decisions confidently and to navigate those decisions successfully

Children become open to experiment with new ideas and learn new concepts

Children are natural born scientists, and they have an incredible ability to teach themselves so much! When we give our children the time and space for open-ended play, they get to test out ideas and concepts

When children have the ability to play without instruction, they become less concerned with doing the activity correctly. Children learn more than you think.

It enables children to practice their leadership and decision-making skills.

Open-ended play gives your child the opportunity to be a leader. When you decide everything for your child it leaves them little chance to decide thing on their own. Rather than telling a child how to do something, open-ended play leaves the decision-making up to them.

The main purpose is to create relaxing environment where your child can make their own decision. In conclusion open-ended play is your time to step back as a parent and let your child take the lead.

“…the fact is that kids learn to make good decision by making decisions, not by following directions.” (Alfie Kohn)

Open Ended Play Provides a Stress Free Environment Where Children Are Less Afraid of Making Mistakes

Open ended play can teach children that it is okay to make mistakes, and that making mistakes is one of the most important ways we learn. Allow them to use their imagination and don’t put limits on what they can do during play. The pressure of making something look exactly like how it should be is not good for both adults and children alike

Open-ended play helps to encourage your child’s Imagination

Open-ended play is a chance for a child to use their imagination. Children become less afraid to make mistakes, which pushes them to experiment new things. Give them a set of building bricks with no end result to follow, and they’ll build a creation entirely from their imagination. There are unlimited ways to use this material .They came with their own ideas of how to play with them and make up their own stories