Encouraging Free Play?

[ABCDaycareMN]

The kids do not want to play on their own... hardly ever. I am constantly telling them to go play with toys...

Any other tricks to encourage free play?

[Blackcat31]

• Turn off the TV (if you have it on)
• Put out ONLY a few toys
• Set a timer for a certain amount of time (30 minutes to begin with..increase by 5 minutes each day)
• Tell the kids they have 2 choices: Sit quietly or play with what you put out

.

Rotate often between free play and guided activities. Every other works well for me.

Also change out the toys you put out and divide the kids into small groups starting with 2-3 max to begin with and then slowly increasing the time.

My kiddos can successfully play in groups of up to 6-7 without fighting but they didn't start that way. It takes a bit of practice, routine and consistency.

Rinse and repeat.

[jenn]

I say "Go play toys" about 1,000 times per day:: I have joked that I should just make a recording of that phrase that plays every few minutes.

Sometimes having too many choices is hard for little ones not used to independent play. Put out 2 or 3 toys and the choices are play with what is out, or sit.

Every once in awhile I get a kid or group of kids that I really believe do not know how to play independently. At home it is all video games, TV, or parent led activity. Then I do modeling. Have everyone sit down. Get out the 2 or 3 choices for that time frame. Model. ("These are the legos. Watch me build a tower. This is the Little People House. Watch me play with the family.") Then let them play.

[ABCDaycareMN]

I swear the little 2 yo dcg is sat in front of a tv at home. Today she brought a movie with her to watch while here....

First day her dcd told me she likes a particular show that i don't even allow my almost 6yo watch.

Tv is not on during the day. I do have music on. Not many toys to choose from. i havent gotten enough extra money for a toy organizer yet so i have a few toys in a toy box. I plan on rotating them out soon.

How often do you rotate toys out?

I really need to get a kitchen timer...

[CrackerJacks]

How old are your kids?

[ABCDaycareMN]

I just have my 6yo home from spring break this week. and my 18m old and 1 2yo dcg.

[Blackcat31]

I swear the little 2 yo dcg is sat in front of a tv at home. Today she brought a movie with her to watch while here....

First day her dcd told me she likes a particular show that i don't even allow my almost 6yo watch.

Tv is not on during the day. I do have music on. Not many toys to choose from. i havent gotten enough extra money for a toy organizer yet so i have a few toys in a toy box. I plan on rotating them out soon.

How often do you rotate toys out?

I really need to get a kitchen timer...

I rotate my toys on two scales....A large rotation happens once a week and of those toys a smaller rotation happens each day.

Yes....a kitchen timer is something I cannot live without. It helps the kids understand how long and helps with transitions.

I have a couple TV addicted kiddo's too. It takes a bit more time with them because they literally do not know how to play and they need you or oler kids to model playing a pro-social skills for them. I haven't had any TV-addicts NOT come around but some do take much longer than others.

[ABCDaycareMN]

I rotate my toys on two scales....A large rotation happens once a week and of those toys a smaller rotation happens each day.

Yes....a kitchen timer is something I cannot live without. It helps the kids understand how long and helps with transitions.

I have a couple TV addicted kiddo's too. It takes a bit more time with them because they literally do not know how to play and they need you or oler kids to model playing a pro-social skills for them. I haven't had any TV-addicts NOT come around but some do take much longer than others.

Maybe ill rotate the toys tonight to see if they will actually play with them again. Last week was great, but it was all new. I need to make them new again...

[Country Kids]

I rotate monthly-toys/books

Every morning I set up "stations" to do upon arrival. I use 3 hula hoops for floor activities (building, magnetics, manipulatives, etc.). Then we have the sensory tub that is changed for holiday (twice this month). On the table-puzzles, play dough, letter mat activities. I set a kitchen timer for 10 min. per activity and it takes us about an hour or so to go through all the stations. Depending on when a child arrives they may only get to do a few of the stations.

Right now I have two at the table doing writing activities (kindergarten readiness) and three on the floor with a basket of blocks.

[ABCDaycareMN]

I rotate monthly-toys/books

Every morning I set up "stations" to do upon arrival. I use 3 hula hoops for floor activities (building, magnetics, manipulatives, etc.). Then we have the sensory tub that is changed for holiday (twice this month). On the table-puzzles, play dough, letter mat activities. I set a kitchen timer for 10 min. per activity and it takes us about an hour or so to go through all the stations. Depending on when a child arrives they may only get to do a few of the stations.

Right now I have two at the table doing writing activities (kindergarten readiness) and three on the floor with a basket of blocks.

I was planning to rotate monthly but they seem to be very bored with whats out. I really like that hula-hoop idea. they have no choice with what to play with for that length of time.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

This generation is very used to being entertained. It's quite sad. I had a child that used to build a TV to watch out of blocks. I currently have a child that just started who says the words, "I'm bored" even in the middle of an activity that he is enjoying. This generation completely baffles me. ::

I rotate toys bi-weekly. I never have boredom issues or playing issues (ages 2-almost 5) except from this new child.

[slpender]

I rotate monthly-toys/books

Every morning I set up "stations" to do upon arrival. I use 3 hula hoops for floor activities (building, magnetics, manipulatives, etc.). Then we have the sensory tub that is changed for holiday (twice this month). On the table-puzzles, play dough, letter mat activities. I set a kitchen timer for 10 min. per activity and it takes us about an hour or so to go through all the stations. Depending on when a child arrives they may only get to do a few of the stations.

Right now I have two at the table doing writing activities (kindergarten readiness) and three on the floor with a basket of blocks.

Do you do the hula hoop activites 1st thing in the morning as the children are arriving? This sounds like a great idea. Is this what you consider your free play time or is this structured time?

[Evansmom]

We rotate daily and it's great! I keep the toys away from our play area. We being out some toys, kids get to have input as to what we bring out. Then if they want to change toys they have to pick up what we have out first. Saves my sanity bc my house doesn't get trashed anymore and the kids actually play with what is out.

I have found that the best thing you can do with kids who are over stimulated by media at home is what others said above. Model correct behavior and limit toys. Also limit electronic toys. Put out only wooden blocks and animals one day, blank paper and crayons at the table. Kids will eventually calm their minds and be interested in these simple toys.

[Country Kids]

I was planning to rotate monthly but they seem to be very bored with whats out. I really like that hula-hoop idea. they have no choice with what to play with for that length of time.

I only actually have 7 wicker baskets of toys out on the toy shelves. Thats it for the month! The learn early on not to be bored.

1 has cars
1 has wooden blocks
1 has Lincoln logs
1 has wooden beads
1 has lacing beads with letters
1 has lacing shaping beads


Then I have a bigger basket of plastic building blocks and a wicker laundry basket of stuffed animals. Also the sensory bin but I open that up for them, not free rein on that.

I also have a quiet bookshelf for when I'm getting lunch done or just need some quiet time.

1 small basket with wooden tiles to spell words with
1 small basket with wooden back massagers ($1.00 apiece a Christmas-Walmart)
1 small basket popsicle sticks for building
2 baskets books

I have lots of other things tucked here and there that are only brought out by me and usually in the mornings when they are arriving and thats the hula hoop toys!

[Country Kids]

Do you do the hula hoop activites 1st thing in the morning as the children are arriving? This sounds like a great idea. Is this what you consider your free play time or is this structured time?

I guess I consider it a "contolled free time"-

This group has a very hard time with "Free play". Things are dumped (even with the little amount of toys I have) and takes them way to long to get everything back.

Yes, I have everything ready to go for my 6:30 arrivals in the morning. The rotate between the stations for about an hour or so and then its breakfast time. While they are eating, I put everything back and we are good to go for pre-school.