What is the value of play? Is structured activity best for kids, or do their goal achievement capabilities excel with more free time? These are the basic questions parents and policy makers ask each other regularly.

The Importance of Self-Directed Executive Functioning

To find the answers, the University of Colorado - Boulder led a study exploring children’s abilities to set and achieve goals based on whether their days are filled with structured activities or less-structured play. The study, which is published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, begins to unravel the value of play when it comes to goal achievement.

The ability to establish and reach goals independent of parental nagging is thanks to a child’s high level of “self-directed executive functioning.” That is to say, the child has the ability to connect previous experiences with current decisions, to exhibit mental control and self-regulation.

For example, a child knows to wear a coat without a parent’s coaxing and gets her homework done before dinner because she has plans that night. Because these simple acts demonstrate self-directed executive functioning – a skill that can increase wealth, promote health and decrease the chance of incarceration in adulthood – parents and experts are interested in learning how to improve this trait early in children’s lives.

Making the Connection Between Play and Goal Achievement

For the study, researchers asked parents of 6- and 7-year-olds to report their children’s activities for a week and categorize these activities as “structured” (such as doing chores, playing sports and taking lessons) or “less structured” (such as playing alone or with others, going on social outings, reading, and playing video games).

Next the researchers evaluated the children’s executive functioning skills with a verbal fluency assignment where the children chose when to switch to a new category. The study found that when children enjoy more less-structured activities, they apparently have more time to practice self-directed decision making. The results in academic and social situations are children who get better grades, have natural leadership skills and enjoy healthier relationships.

To learn more about the value of play, please contact ListenLoveLearn today.

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