The Effect of Free Play on The Development of Motor Skills in Children

This study aims to examine the effect of unguided free play on the development of basic motor skills in preschool children. This was achieved by comparing the results of a group of children participating in a free play program with a guided play group and a control group. The study used a quasi-experimental approach, and the sample included 150 children, both boys and girls, aged 4–6 years, who were randomly assigned to three equal groups. The two experimental groups underwent a ten-week intervention program, with two sessions per week for each group, while the control group continued with the usual educational program without motor intervention. The MABC-2 and TGMD-2 tests were used to measure motor performance in gross and fine skills before and after the program was implemented. The results showed statistically significant differences between the pre- and post-measurements in favor of the post-measurement in the two experimental groups, with free play outperforming gross motor skills, while the guided play group outperformed fine motor skills. No statistically significant differences were recorded between males and females in response to the intervention. The study concluded that free play is an effective tool for promoting gross motor development in children. It also emphasized the importance of combining free and guided play within educational settings. The study recommends integrating free play into daily activities in early childhood, creating supportive and safe environments for its practice, and providing educators and teachers with appropriate training to employ it effectively.