Encourage Independent Play for Mental Health
When we think about children’s development, we often focus on what they’re learning, behaving, or even doing socially. But have you ever considered independent play's crucial role in fostering mental health and strengthening emotional well-being?
As we see growing concerns about children's mental health today, research points to a decline in unsupervised play as a key factor in rising levels of anxiety and depression. Studies like those of Dr. Peter Gray from Boston College remind us that when kids don’t get the chance to play on their own, they miss out on learning how to make choices, solve problems, and build the resilience needed to manage life’s challenges. Suppose we want to raise confident, creative, and emotionally healthy kids. In that case, we need to encourage them to play independently, explore, and discover the world around them without constant adult direction.
Independent play offers kids the opportunity to develop their decision-making abilities. In these moments—when they’re deciding what to do, how to do it, and how to adapt when things don’t go according to plan—they learn resilience and autonomy. They get creative, using their imagination to solve problems and develop ideas, and that’s a crucial part of their mental development and emotional growth.
Let’s get practical. To foster this type of play and creativity, there are several things we can do:
Create Time for Unstructured Play: Give kids regular free play opportunities outside or in activities that let them use their imagination. Let them decide what to do without hovering over them or directing every action.
Limit Screen Time: Too much screen time can stunt creativity. While technology has its place, we want to encourage activities that require hands-on exploration and imaginative thinking. Get creative with what’s around—art supplies, building blocks, or even items from nature!
Encourage Exploration: Let kids follow their interests and experiment. Whether they’re into nature, drawing, building, or playing make-believe, allowing them to explore what excites them helps them develop a sense of independence and creativity.
Celebrate the Process, Not Just the Result: When kids play and create, it’s important to focus on the joy of the process, not just the outcome. Celebrate their efforts and curiosity without pressuring them to create something perfect.
We don’t need to fill every moment of our kids’ days with structured activities. Making space for independent play allows children to learn more about who they are and their capabilities. And as they build confidence through play, they’ll develop resilience and spark the creativity that will serve them throughout their lives.
Let’s give our kids the gift of play, and in the process, we may rediscover a bit of creativity ourselves.