Lower Schoolers Learn from Unstructured Play

“One man’s junk is  another man’s treasure.” Nowhere is that more true than in an area of the lower school playground called the Creativity Corner. The Junkyard. Full of things like old tires, pieces of wood, boxes of all sizes, it is a little boy’s dream come true. Build it, tear it down, build it again. Let’s see how high we can make this go!

Research has long shown that the benefits of unstructured or free play, and particularly outdoor play, are enormous in a child’s development. Children learn to be active and creative, use their imaginations, and interact without the boundaries of the rules of formal games. They learn to make their own rules and resolve conflicts, all important in the development of social skills.

This year, the lower school instituted an unstructured play time before the actual start of the school day. At 7:30 AM on any morning, the playground is full of boys being active and involved. No spot is more popular than the Creativity Corner. By the time the bell rings, students enter the building ready to settle down and learn. 

The same is true during recess. Students across all grade levels are physically active while working together to create, problem solve, socialize, and above all, play and have fun!