The debate over assigning centers vs. allowing free choice is one that has long raged in the early childhood field. With good reason, teachers are asking… ‘how will children learn what they need to if they don’t engage with every center?’. That question leads to the thought process of implementing a very structured process of assigning children which centers to go to and when. It makes sense to our minds – if children go to each center, they are getting all the things… right? Maybe not. Let’s lay out 5 reasons why assigning centers can backfire.
Before we lay out those 5 reasons, let’s clarify between free choice and assigned centers.
Free Choice: Children choose which centers to visit, they choose how long to stay and when to move to a different center. There is very little restriction on center use.
Assigned Centers: Children are told what center to go and how long to stay there by an adult. Or, a child chooses the center they go to, but can only choose from those centers not already full. Nor can they leave the center freely.
5 Reasons Why Assigning Centers can Backfire
1. Stifled Creativity
When children are assigned to play centers, their imagination and creativity can be stifled. Instead of being able to explore things that interest them, they are forced to conform to predetermined activities – which may or may not be of interest.
When we don’t allow time for children to explore their own ideas we can, unintentionally, keep children from finding their own zone of genius.
2. Hindered Social Development
When we choose or limit which centers children can go to, we also limit which peers children interact with.
With this limitation we are keeping children from being able to find other children in the class that they enjoy and wish to seek friendship with. We are also limiting the time that children have to play with those they have already formed friendships with. Yes, playing with lots of different children is important. But, assigning groups keeps children from being able to make choices around who they interact with.
On the flipside, when we assign centers to separate several children doesn’t actually help the children learn how to work together, instead it just avoids the conflict with no new skills being learned.
3. Lessened Child Autonomy
When we assign children to centers or limit their choices we can undermine their sense of control and autonomy. Children can feel powerless and therefore become disengaged when they don’t feel like they have a say in the way they do their work (play).
And this disengagement can turn into decreased motivation to do the center at hand and allow for children to ‘find their own fun’ in the center – whether its an appropriate use of the tools or not! Not enjoying play can also hurt a child’s love of learning.
4. More Behavior Problems
What do un-engaged little humans do? They find something else to do. Whether it’s not using materials appropriately or they turn to making mischief with a fellow classmate… un-engaged children can create more behavior issues for teachers to handle.
If children aren’t spending the time in the center with purpose and intent, then what is the point of requiring they go there? Teachers can lessen the time spent redirecting negative behaviors and increase engagement by allowing children with a lot of choice!
5. Surface-Level Learning
When we tell children where to go to play and how long they must stay there, we are likely only going to get surface-level play. According to experts, it can take 30 minutes or more for children to get into deeply engaged play – and that isn’t in just any ol’ play center… It’s play in a center that they have an interest in.
When our children aren’t getting into deeply engaged play, they could be missing out on intellectual skill development like critical thinking and complex problem solving.
While assigning centers may seem like a practical way to organize play time, it can have unintended negative consequences. By allowing children to have more choice and freedom in their play, we can promote creativity, social-emotional development, and a love for all things learning. Ultimately, free play may be the most beneficial approach, as it offers children the greatest opportunity to explore their interests, develop essential skills, and build positive relationships.
