Advantages and disadvantages of structured and unstructured play:

Advantages of structured play:
‘Free play and structured play’ (n.d., p.1), commented that advantages could include "cooperative play, sportsmanship, teamwork, strategy and following directions". Morris (2005, p.1), extended on this stating "structured play offers several benefits including: Introducing your child to new ideas and opportunities, enhancing their development and learning abilities, supporting healthy brain development, increasing physical and social skills, providing experience in cooperation, self-discipline and perseverance, developing a positive self-image and building team skills".

Disadvantages of structured play:
Disadvantages can be less time/opportunity for unstructured play (thus preventing the benefits of unstructured play) and causing increased stress. Titus (n.d., p.2) noted that "over scheduling structured play often leads to a child developing stress and anxiety, as well as depression on occasion, according to the APP" (American Academy of Pediatrics). Titus continued to comment that "children with busy structured play schedules may fall behind at school, complain of headaches or stomach aches and feel tired frequently...in addition; families who feel children must be involved in many activities often feel the stress and exhaustion of keeping up with the structured schedule" (n.d., p.2).

Advantages of unstructured play:
According to ‘free play and structured play’ (n.d., p.1) it noted self-regulation, conflict negotiation, problem solving, social-emotional growth, persistence, resilience and collaboration as possible advantages. Titus (n.d., p.2) named the "benefits of unstructured play such as creativity, imagination, decision-making and the development of overall emotional, cognitive and physical strength". Tassoni (2007, p.390) comments that "children tend to concentrate and persevere for long periods when they are ‘in control’ of their learning. Their levels of motivation are higher because they have chosen something that appeals to them".

Disadvantages of unstructured play:
Although there wasn’t much information on the disadvantages of unstructured play, this type of play is about exploration and with exploration comes risk taking. Exposure to more risk and risk taking can expose a child to the result of positive and negatives consequences. Generally if the risk results in a negative consequence then the child will lack the confidence to take the risk again, whilst the parent would limit the child from having the same opportunity out of safety. It could also be noted that if a child is exposed to too much unstructured play that it can be hard for them to adjust to activities that require more structure or following of direction.