Why Free Play Is So Important

I've paired up with Petits Filous who have just launched a Free Play campaign which encourages parents to unplug those screens and let your children lead the way and is something which I am very passionate about. 

I'm a believer that you should allow your children to be bored every now and then, often I find when I give little instruction and allow them to take the lead whether indoors or out they become more creative and imaginative than ever. In a world that is dominated with instant entertainment through screens it's really important to simplify things, giving children a chance to learn about cause and effect, develop cognitive and communication skills as well as discover new passions such as painting and crafting. Anita Cleare the co-founder of The Positive Parenting Project and parenting speaker, writer and co-founder has done a great post on why boredom is good for kids and it's really worth checking out 

If you regularly read my blog you will know that I am passionate about natural and outdoor play, I also make a conscious decisions to step back, to let my boys discover things for themselves and not to stop the flow unless for safety reasons. With Siri and Alexa answering all questions at the click of a button I think now more than ever we need to give children the time and freedom to find the answers for themselves. 

Of course for kids to be active and full of energy keeping a snack on hand is a must which is where Petits Filous come in and as a family we have a pretty natural approach to food, opting for low sugar choices with no added artificial colours, flavours or preservatives which I am happy to say Petits Filous fits into plus it provide your child with both calcium and Vitamin D which are essential for a healthy diet and bone development. They also have a Naturals range with no added sugar and this topped with some fresh fruit such as strawberries makes for a great after school snack as well as yogurt pouches for a treat on the go. 

So instead of putting the TV on as soon as the kids come home why don't you keep it off and see what they get up too. I always find that the TV is a distraction or renders them immobile from natural play, which at times can be good if your trying to cook dinner or have 5 minutes peace but as soon as it's off I find my boys love to make dens, create worlds out of duplo, dress up, role play or get creative in their notebooks and it's also often the time they interact and play with each other the best which less arguing, just an observation but I feel its because they are not being over stimulated by a screen. 

I’m working with Petits Filous and BritMums promoting the #PetitsFilousPlayFree campaign about the importance of free  play