5. Self-Directed Social Play

SELF-DIRECTED SOCIAL PLAY is free social play with multiple-aged playmates. 

WHAT ALL ADULTS CAN DO:

• Try not to interfere in a child’s natural play instinct. For example, create spaces where adults can let baby and toddler explore on their own without interference.
• Build into a child’s day several self-directed social playtimes.
• Let children be outside on their own.
• Encourage social play with differently-aged playmates. Although adult-directed sports or other play activities might be good too, self-directed free play is different and important for social and emotional brain development.
• 
  

WHY IS SELF-DIRECTED SOCIAL PLAY IMPORTANT?

·  Play grows our brains and our humanity in early life, turning on genes for controlling aggression and building social flexibility (Burgdorf et al., 2010; van den Berg et al., 1999). 

·  Self-directed social play facilitates emotion regulation development, including aggressive urges (Panksepp et al., 2003; van den Berg et al., 1999).

·  Humans are mammals and young mammals play when they feel safe and well (Panksepp, 2007). 

·  People who have little self-directed social play experience tend to be more aggressive and have other behavior disorders (e.g., van den Berg et al., 1999), as well as diminished academic achievement (Barros, Silver & Stein, 2009). 

Free Range Kids

How to Encourage Free Play

Let’s Play America