Free play can mitigate mental illness in students
allowing them to confront risk, letting them learn social skills and allowing to find their passions #
An organism will feel less stressed if they believe they have control over a situation. In free play, away from adults, children really do have control and can practice asserting it. In free play, children learn to make their own decisions, solve their own problems, create and abide by rules, and get along with others as equals rather than as obedient or rebellious subordinates. In vigorous outdoor play, children deliberately dose themselves with moderate amounts of fear—as they swing, slide, or twirl on playground equipment, climb on monkey bars or trees, or skateboard down banisters—and they thereby learn how to control not only their bodies, but also their fear. In social play children learn how to negotiate with others, how to please others, and how to modulate and overcome the anger that can arise from conflicts. Free play is also nature’s means of helping children discover what they love. In their play children try out many activities and discover where their talents and predilections lie. None of these lessons can be taught through verbal means; they can be learned only through experience, which free play provides. The predominant emotions of play are interest and joy.
References
- Gray, Peter. (2013). Free to Learn Chapter 1. What Have We Done to Childhood? (p. 38). New York, NY: Basic Books.
Metadata
Type:🔴 Tags: Politics / Education / Psychiatry Status:⛅️