Don't Forget to Schedule Time for Play - Native English Teacher in Hong Kong

Play is an enormously important part of a child’s development.

It may be the most educational activity your child can participate in.

There is no question that structure and discipline play an important role in the positive development of a child, but, with the increasing pressure to achieve, parent's may be over scheduling their kids, leaving little or no time for free play.


So how does this affect a child?


"Regimented play activities can have negative consequences on the social and emotional development of a child because they are too organized and take away a child's initiative and freedom of choice. In contrast, freeform play encourages the creative and multi-sensory development of a child because it has no structure." Sarah Harris, education correspondent for the Daily Mail.

Play is such an important aspect of a child's life that it is actually recognized as a right by the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights.


Free play allows children to actively participate in hands-on-learning at their own pace and to physically manipulate the world around them.

Digging a hole will teach physical skills that one will never learn sitting in front of a computer. Touching, moving things and negotiating with peers about the use of objects are all the building blocks of healthy social and motor skills.

Through play, children process and manage emotions, and understand and interpret the world around them. They learn concepts, relationships, creativity, cause and effect, sizes, colors, textures, feelings, emotions, sensations, sounds, symbols, and language, among other things.


The same theory carries through to classes for young kids. It is unnatural for a preschool student to sit at a desk, listening to a teacher. Children are filled to the brim with energy, and need the space and time to dispense it as they please.


If you are searching for a preschool for your child, take into consideration the amount of free time, and self-direction given to the children. Is most of the time spent sitting and listening, or are the kids encouraged to participate in hands-on activities? Most importantly, are the kids enjoying themselves?

Preschool is meant to foster a thirst for knowledge that will carry through to the rest of their education. There are alternatives to the traditional early educational setting.


The Montessori Method embraces the concept of free play and personal choice. Children are encouraged to learn at their own pace, with focus on practical daily life activities. These schools can now be found all over the world.

Whatever method you choose, your child’s happiness should guide your decision over anything else.



If you're interested, here is another article I co-wrote with Mike Catherall: Spectator Smog Front and Centre Issue at the Beijing Olympics.