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"Just for Fun" – The Secret Ingredient in Childhood Learning

In the world of school-age care, there’s often a strong focus on aligning activities with frameworks like My Time, Our Place (MTOP) or linking them to formal curriculum areas. These links are valuable—they help us demonstrate learning, build specific skills, and meet regulatory expectations. But here’s the thing not all learning fits neatly into an outcome box✨. And sometimes, the most valuable experiences happen when children are simply having fun.

Why “Just for Fun” Matters

"Just for Fun" activities might seem unstructured or purely recreational, but they play a crucial role in a child’s development:

• Intrinsic Motivation:
  When children choose an activity purely because it excites them, they’re tapping into self-motivation—a skill that fuels lifelong learning.
• Stress Relief:
  School days can be intense. Fun, non-assessed activities allow children to decompress, which improves emotional regulation and overall wellbeing.
• Creativity & Innovation:
  Fun activities often have no fixed outcome, allowing children to experiment, make mistakes, and think outside the box.
• Social Skills in Action:
  From spontaneous role-play games to casual group crafts, “just for fun” spaces encourage natural teamwork, negotiation, and empathy—without the pressure of a “learning target.”
• Hidden Learning Happens Anyway:
  Even if we don’t label it, “just for fun” play builds skills—fine motor skills during craft, problem-solving in games, and communication in group activities.

The MTOP Connection
The beauty of the MTOP framework is that it recognises children as capable learners in a range of contexts—including those driven by their own interests.

• Outcome 1 (Identity) is strengthened when children feel free to explore what they enjoy.
• Outcome 3 (Wellbeing) is supported through relaxation and joy.
• Outcome 4 (Learning) thrives in curiosity-driven exploration.
• The difference is that “just for fun” activities often meet these outcomes indirectly and in ways that are harder to quantify—but no less important.

Finding the Balance

A program rich in variety should have both:

1. 1. Planned activities with intentional links to learning outcomes.
   2. Open, fun-focused activities where enjoyment is the main goal.
   3. This balance respects children as whole beings—not just learners on a checklist.

Final Thought:

In childhood, fun isn’t a break from learning—it’s a different way of learning. The laughter, excitement, and joy from these activities often plant the seeds for skills, confidence, and resilience that will grow for years to come.

So next time a child chooses the glitter glue simply because it’s sparkly, remember: the value is there, even if the link isn’t written in a planner.🌈Find some of our “Just for Fun” products on our website to help create wonderful, joy-filled experiences in your program.