Your Free Play Kit
Got free time? Try Free Play!
A box of playful possibilities to learn, grow and have fun with.


What is Free Play?
Play that children lead themselves.
​
They pick what to play, how, and for how long. The teacher does not direct. That is the whole point.
​
When children make the decisions, they practise planning, negotiating, adapting and problem-solving again and again.
​
Small moments, powerful learning!


Teacher's Role during Free Play
• Step back and watch
• Keep everyone safe
• Notice how they learn
• Resist the urge to fix

So many ways to Play
• No single right way
• Build, stack, sort
• Turn blocks into games
• Let them invent

Skills that Free Play Builds
• Negotiating
• Collaborating
• Listening
• Making choices
• Speaking up
• Problem-solving

How to make Free Play happen

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

What to look for when children play
Free Play is working when you see and hear children...

Taking turns
"My turn next!"

Making up rules
"Let's make teams of 3"


Talking out problems
Sorting who goes first

Building together
"You hold, I will place the block"

Trying again despite failure
Rebuilding after it breaks

Happy & absorbed
Too busy to notice you

Whats inside your Free Play Kit

Bowling Set

Jodo Blocks

Chess

Large Balls

Jumbo Blocks

Ring Toss

Jodo Straws

Skip Ropes

Uno

Ludo

Hula Hoops

Super Architect

Foam Balls

Mechanix

Bat & Ball

Lagori

Snakes & Ladders

Frisbee

Jenga

Racket & Ball
Open-ended materials, no rules:
​
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.

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


Fun ways to play

Hula Hoop Pass
Pass a hoop around a circle of friends without letting go of hands.
See how to play →

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

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

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

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

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