As I watched my son in swimming lessons today, I was fascinated as he pushed the water over the edge of the pool and trickled down the gaps between the tiles, sort of a drain. He made me reflect on the importance of play in learning. Children of all ages learn by playing. Young children begin the learning process by playing on the living room floor, in the sandbox, or even during bath time. Learning ability grows for older children as their world expands to include building a tree house or some crazy go-cart using a variety of toys in the yard. Take a moment and think about some of your favorite childhood memories. I imagine those memories consisting of moments when you were absorbed in activity, while you marveled at the wonders of the world. Was he exploring the nearby creek? See sticks and leaves float in the stream? Or was it the achievement of building an amazing structure out of blocks or Lego? Whatever it was, the opportunity for this free game provided lasting memories and educational opportunities.

There is increasing evidence that these experiences are vital to children’s growth. A toy that has the Parent’s Choice Award designation is not guaranteed to provide appropriate developmental opportunities. Children learn problem-solving skills, social skills, self-regulation skills, and self-confidence are gained when children engage in unstructured play. Children who learn to play creatively will become adults who can think for themselves and be creative in the workplace.

What this means for parents is that we must allow our children to get dirty and make masses. Their science experiments or cooking experiments provide learning opportunities in physics and math. When they are engaged with others, social and negotiation skills are acquired.

When shopping for children’s gifts, we should think about which toys will provide the greatest opportunity for open, unstructured play. These items include blocks, Legos, dolls, costumes, and art supplies. Consider opportunities such as time in the woods, in a field, or on an earthen mound as wonderful experiences to spark children’s curiosity.

As we move into the new year, I encourage everyone to find ways to increase our children’s opportunities for open, unstructured play and minimize structured activities, TV time, and computer time.