I have freeplay after breakfast until just after 9 and we start our crafting/learning days or our playground or library type trips until lunch. Then after naptime and afternoon snack there is freeplay until pickup time. On rainy days I allow most of the morning to be freeplay. When I started out I was working so hard to make sure I had something planned for every single day but I realized the children really need time to just play and imagine.

If you think about it isn't freeplay what children are doing no matter where you go? We aren't directing their play when we go to the park, you know? We're just directing them a bit for safety reasons. I do give them ideas for imaginative play around the toyroom to keep them going with their games.