What Free Play Actually Builds
Have you ever felt like your kid needs one more class, one more activity, one more thing to keep them busy?
There's research that says otherwise.
A large study followed toddlers and preschoolers for years and found that the ones who got more unstructured, free play time were better at managing themselves later on — including their ability to focus.
Free play isn't wasted time. It's practice.
THIS WEEK’S RECOMMENDATION
With International Day of Peace tomorrow, we’re thinking about the small ways we can help make the world a little kinder, which feels like the perfect time to share something special from our friends at cuddle+kind.
If there’s a little one in your life who could use a friend for free play, a cozy addition to their focus space, or simply something soft to hold onto, REK members can save 15% on a cuddle+kind doll with code KID15, now through September 25, 2026.
And with every doll providing 10 meals to children in need, it’s a gift that gives a little kindness in both directions.
HERO STORY
Three Pigs on Point
You probably know the story of the three little pigs. A while back, Sylvia and Tammy had some fun reimagining it, and The Three Pigpreneurs was born.
In our version, Billy, Tilly and Milly aren’t building three separate houses.
They’re building a business.
Billy has a head for numbers. Tilly loves to create. Milly loves helping others. Together, they use what each does best to build sustainable homes for their animal friends.
Things are going pretty well until the Big Bold Wolf arrives.
Suddenly, they have a problem no one has given them the answer to. They have to figure it out themselves.
It’s one reason we use The Three Pigpreneurs at Camp SuperNova to introduce kids to entrepreneurship. Like free play, it gives kids a chance to create, experiment and figure things out as they go.
Think about a child building a fort, opening a pretend shop or inventing a game. They can stay with it forever because they want to know what happens next.
Maybe that’s the part of focus we sometimes overlook. Instead of always asking kids to pay attention, we can give them more chances to find something worth paying attention to.
THE TINY TRY
Color It In
Coloring is having a moment again with kids and grown-ups. Maybe because it gives our hands something to do while our brains get a little break from screens.
We created a coloring book featuring Billy, Tilly and Milly from The Three Pigpreneurs, with simple prompts about kindness along the way.
Try turning it into a morning or evening ritual with your family.
Leave one coloring page and a few coloring pencils on the kitchen table, counter or coffee table. Then practice this habit recipe:
After we sit down together, we’ll color for two minutes.
That’s it. Two minutes or keep going if everyone wants to.
The goal isn’t to finish the picture. It’s to mDake a tiny moment of focused time together easier to start.
Before you go…
What does play have to do with focus? Quite a lot, actually.
This 30-sec video explains how play helps kids build executive function — the skills they use to focus, remember, plan and manage themselves.
Source: Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University
If something you tried this week sparked a conversation, a funny moment, or a little win with your child, write back and tell us about it. Your stories are often our favorite part of doing this.
Here’s to a little more room for play this week.
Your friends at REK,
Adam & Matthew Toren, Sylvia Tam, and Tammy Vallieres
Our new member hub is live — free activities, conversation starters, and resources for your family. Access it here.
“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning.”