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By The Opentree Foundation

Your Free Play Kit

Got free time?  Try Free Play!

A box of playful possibilities to learn, grow and have fun with.

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What is Free Play?

Play that children lead themselves. 

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They pick what to play, how, and for how long. The teacher does not direct. That is the whole point.

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When children make the decisions, they practise planning, negotiating, adapting and problem-solving again and again.

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Small moments, powerful learning!

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Teacher's Role during Free Play

•  Step back and watch

•  Keep everyone safe

•  Notice how they learn

•  Resist the urge to fix

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So many ways to Play

•  No single right way

•  Build, stack, sort

•  Turn blocks into games

•  Let them invent

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Skills that Free Play Builds

•  Negotiating

•  Collaborating

•  Listening

•  Making choices

•  Speaking up

•  Problem-solving

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How to make Free Play happen

Free Play is simple. Children Choose. Children Play!

All you need is:

  • Time (15+ minutes)

  • Space (Classroom, Corridor, Playground, or any space)

Simple steps to start:

  1. Open the Free Play Crate.

  2. Children choose what to play.

  3. Let children lead while you watch.

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Only 3 rules for Free Play

1

Be safe

Play so everyone stays safe

2

Be kind

Share, take turns and include all

3

Take care

Look after the materials

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What to look for when children play

Free Play is working when you see and hear children...

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Taking turns

"My turn next!"

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Making up rules

"Let's make teams of 3"

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Talking out problems

Sorting who goes first

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Building together

"You hold, I will place the block"

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Trying again despite failure

Rebuilding after it breaks

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Happy & absorbed

Too busy to notice you

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Whats inside your Free Play Kit

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    Bowling Set

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    Jodo Blocks

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    Chess

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    Large Balls

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    Jumbo Blocks

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    Ring Toss

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    Jodo Straws

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    Skip Ropes

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    Uno

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    Ludo

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    Hula Hoops

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    Super Architect

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    Foam Balls

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    Mechanix

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    Bat & Ball

    Lagori.png

    Lagori

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    Snakes & Ladders

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    Frisbee

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    Jenga

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    Racket & Ball

  • Open-ended materials, no rules: 

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    Balls, hoops, blocks and ropes, played any way the children like.

    A few familiar games: 

     

    Ludo, Snakes & Ladders and Uno, which children already know and can play on their own.

  • Play materials are not limited to what you can buy.

    Everyday items from home or classroom work just as well. And no material is fixed to one game: a ball can be caught, rolled, balanced, sorted or stacked.

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     A few ways you can make your own kit:

    What to gather

    Balls, skipping ropes, old toys and anything else children enjoy playing with.

    Loose Parts

    Sticks, ropes, cardboard and any other everyday materials children can play with creatively.

    Storage

    Put all the materials together in a box and store it somewhere children can reach on their own.

     Safety first:  As long as the materials are safe for children, they can be used as play materials.

Want The Opentree Foundation's Play Kit?

Get in touch with us at play@opentree.org

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Fun ways to play

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Hula Hoop Pass

Pass a hoop around a circle of friends without letting go of hands.

See how to play →

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Jenga

Build the tower, then take turns pulling out blocks without toppling it.

See how to play →

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Lagori

Knock down a pile of stones/tiles with a ball, then race to rebuild it.

See how to play →

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Mystery Object

Blindfolded, guess the object placed in your hands using only touch.

See how to play →

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Silent Ball

Players silently toss a ball around. Anyone who fumbles or makes a sound is out.

See how to play →

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Tunnel Ball

A speedy relay where players roll, pass, and race a ball through their legs.

See how to play →

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