5 Key Features Of Child Led Play

Today I’m going to be looking at 5 key features of child Led Play. Now you might be thinking whats that? Well it is defined as play that is started, led and controlled by the child rather than the adult and has a host of benefits.

Within a Full fat Forest School this type of play is central to learning because of its huge benefits. If you have no idea what I mean by full fat there is a link in the description below to the episode I did all about Full fat, diet and lite Forest School.

The Benefits Of Child Led Play

What are these benefits for my child you may ask? Well they include
Sustained focus, owning their learning, prime opportunities for adults to learn deeply about their child, increased communication and use of language, creativity and problem solving.

When adults interfere too much in play,which lets face it we often find ourselves doing, children are often directed to follow the pre-set rules and structures of our society.

By allowing children freedom to create, they can develop their own innovative play, storylines and objects of their imagination.

Child led play allows a child to control the direction and narrative of their play experiences. Simply what happens, when and how they learn . It, along with play in general, has huge benefits for a child’s holistic development which is one reason it is used at Forest School.

But what are some key features of this type of play and why does it work so well at forest school?

5 Key Features Of Child Led Play

1. Resource Rich Learning Environments

For child-led play to be successful, the environment needs a wide variety of valuable, age appropriate and challenging learning resources. Of which the Forest School environment has literally thousands when we think about the loose parts items such as sticks, leaves and other things.

These are items that have no specific play usage but can be anything to anyone. Further resources such as tools and rope can be brought in to enhance play further, develop opportunities and move forward learning where necessary.

2. Child in Control

The child should be able to control the content, direction, pace and length of the play scenario. They should have the freedom to select the play materials or resources that they would like to use to progress their play and come to an agreement with other children in the group. A child may invite an adult into this moment and the adult will skillfully take the child’s lead.

In Forest School, children are consistently in control and are ably supported and helped by the play expert that is the Forest School leader to take them to the next steps in their learning journey.

There is little to no planning done and is usually done in the moment with the children to maximize the potential learning opportunities. Play items are already present in the forest but the leader can also bring some with them to enhance the play, that has been observed, the following session and this is open and free to use by all the children when they wish to without any structure or rota for its use.

3. Open-Ended Possibilities

Child led play doesn’t follow a set structure or direction except those made and imposed by the children through play. Children have the freedom to move about their play space and create story lines of their choosing.

Child led play at Forest School is so open ended not only because of what I have already mentioned in this point and the couple before, but because of the woodland environment and it’s mystery, excitement and changes eachtime a child attends.

This all leads to play that can continue for hours and evolve and adapt to suit the children as and when they require it to.

And finally point 4 and 5 role in together as they compliment one another

4. Adults follow Children’s Cues and 5 Adults Support, but do not direct

During child led play adults don’t have to be part of the play experience however if invited the play can evolve into areas where children alone may have not been able to take it and this can inspire future play events.

If adults are part of the play, they should follow the child’s lead asking questions only as a play partner or for own understanding and not as a quiz or to seek knowledge.

Even if a child is ‘doing it wrong’, mistakes are part of the learning-through-play experience and are hugely beneficial for development and those ah ha moments.This is incredible to be part of as an adult, let me just say that.

So there you have it 5 key features of of child led play and why it works so well at Forest School. Before I sign off today I would love if you could rate, review and subscribe to this blog, so more and more people can hear the Forest School message.

I would would be truly grateful to you for adding value to others lives by doing this.

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