*Edit* How Long Is Too Long for "Free Play" During Playgroup?

I think the playing with other children is a very good educational tool. I don't think limiting playtime with other children is a great thing. Play groups are for play. The other sounds like a pre-school setting and my kids get that already they need the playtime with the other kids.

I personally think the idea of "too much free play" is funny. Kids LEARN BY PLAYING. In fact, self-directed PLAY will always be how they learn best --for older kids play will be figuring out a puzzle or what word certain letters form, for instance. Sitting in a circle isn't educational. You can't force a child to engage, and honestly, many children aren't ready to "engage" during circle time till they are around the kindergarten age. Learning takes place when kids are "engaged," most 2-4 year olds just can't "engage' more than a few minutes at a time in a circle activity.

For 2-3 year olds, anything longer than 20 minutes of circle time isn't really developmentally appropriate.

I have a PhD in the philosophy of education, btw. I take this stuff so seriously that my children will not be attending preschools. They do attended classes (music, swim, an educational class at the local zoo), but they will not be going to "School" until they are at least 4.5, if not 5. The whole "preschool" movement was originally to help less fortunate children, but now middle class America has decided to make it about who has a bigger house. I find it ridiculous that people are sending their 2 year olds to school. The only job a 2 year old should have is to PLAY.

I majored in Child Development and taught preschool for 3 years before having my son.... and can't wait to get back to the classroom!! My classes were 3 hours long and the children had "free play" for 45 minutes. The next 5 minutes were clean-up time. Based on many modern studies and theories, children can never play enough!

Really, it is the quality of the play, not the quantity. If you notice that the teachers interact and help guide play with the children, 50 is not too long. If the teachers sit around and only interact when there are incidents, then even 10 minutes is too long!!

It is interesting that there isn't more consistency between the classrooms - does the 50 minute free play classroom have any group time? (really, even group time can be unnecessary if the teachers are well engaged and include all aspects in their class guidance)

ALSO, it depends on the age range of the class... if the children are all on the younger side, 2-3, they are a little young to be sitting for very long and they actually need more play time in order to hone their social skills.

However much you don't like the longer free play, it may not be a good idea to arrive late - as a teacher, I have watched children come in and not be able to transition well into a classroom of already playing children. Even if it looks like your daughter can transition well into the room, other children may struggle with a late comer.

Free play has much more to do with the developmental aspects of socialization and less to do with academics. I think it's great, though, that she has two groups to go to - each sounds like it is offering enough different developmental activities.
Think of play as a child's way of working on social boundaries.

All of that said, I wonder about asking the 50 minute free play classroom about their circle time. Ask if they have a curriculum for circle time and if so, how long do they spend on each topic? Ask them if they have songs that they open and close circle time with to help the children get into a routine. Find out if you can volunteer to read a book during circle time (I LOVED it when parents came in un-prompted to read or sing with the kids!!).

Good luck!

There's no reason to limit her play-time. Socialization with other little ones is important, but so is her play! She's learning through all of that, even if you can't see it. There is a lot of research showing that we are being TOO structured with our children too young. The first group sounds great. They get to run around, play, learn, get their wiggles out but at the same time work on structure (and the repetition is so important).

toddlers should be transitioning into PRESCHOOLERS not kindergartners. It sounds like you need to find a preschool for your child instead of 2 playgroups. Preschools have a little bit of freeplay and then should work on things like letters and shapes and colors in a FUN and non academic way...through crafts, games, etc.

I would not expect a playgroup to offer anything other than freeplay....which IMO they can never get enough of. This is the MOST important thing that a child can be doing at this age. THis is primarily how their brains develop.

Free play is learning time as well. Just because there is nothing read or repeated it builds social and emontional skills. Those skills are need for life.

Play groups and preschool are two different things. If you want her in a structured preschool program that's different in a lot of ways. maybe check into that. playgroups are more for socialization

you're only talking 10 minutes difference! What's lacking is the circle time from the one group!

That said, preschool is ALL about socialization & academics are a by-product if the preschool is handled right. Children learn thru interaction with others, they learn to build their own knowlege base by watching others & being allowed hands-on activities. Quite often there is circle time, quite often there is time to sit & do fun things. ABCs & numbers can be learned without taking the playtime out of the mix.

But that is preschool....& you are using a playgroup. Huge difference!

I agree that the first scenario is much better than the second one. I mean, she can play at home for free. But if you are paying for it anyway, why not take advantage of the whole entire session. Even though its self directed play, its still different than home and play is the way kids learn! I think though, you should speak to the teachers and discuss how you prefer the first scenario. I don't have a PHD in Educational Philosophy but I wanted to add that maybe for some kids preschool is not the best choice but for my son its the best thing we ever did. He has been receiving services from EI for a speech delay and they felt he was too self-directed and not open to new ideas from others. Since starting preschool 2 months ago (he will be 3 in March) the changes in him have been dramatic. In a wonderful way. So you do what you know is right for your child.

Actually, studies have shown that free-play is crucial to development. So, unless you're worried about something specific, just letting the kids play in a safe environment (with appropriate parental/moderator intervention) is actually at least or more beneficial for your child.

I think you should look for other avenues for the scheduling/learning (letters, colors, shapes, numbers) for preschool readiness. Perhaps talk to a couple of preschool programs about what they feel the kids need for readiness, and then work on that at home or in another setting.

Mallory P said almost exactly what I was thinking! Toddlers need free play that is how they learn. Toddlers don't go directly into kindergarten. You didn't say how old your child is, but if they are a toddler, they need to play, if they are 4, and you are looking for kindergarten readiness, don't go to a play group.

Children learn through play. Research it. I sent my child to school part time at a young age so he could play with other children his age. (we didnt have friends, cousins or neighbors around for him to play with during the day.) Again I encourage your to look up the value of play the NY Times just had an article.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/06/garden/06play.html?_r=2...

Playing is how kids learn.