Overview

The handout 7 Common Adult Responses to Child-Led Play explores how adults influence children’s ability to play freely, from supporting their choices to shutting their play down entirely. While rough-and-tumble play is the example used throughout this handout, these seven responses apply to all kinds of play and exploration—imaginative, sensory, constructive, and beyond. At its heart, this handout reflects Peter Gray’s first condition of play: real play must be self-chosen and self-directed. The handout shows how adult actions protect or interfere with that freedom to choose, helping caregivers see where their reactions fall on the spectrum. This is a practical tool for anyone looking to support play in a meaningful way.

Download The 7 Common Adult Responses to Child-Led Play Handout

Here’s the handout PDF to download, share, or print as you see fit:

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