Abstract

VASQUEZ BADA, Aslhy Marjory  and  RIOS GONZALES, Jorge David. Impact of free play on the development of children's autonomy. Revista InveCom [online]. 2025, vol.5, n.4, e504009.  Epub June 12, 2025. ISSN 2739-0063.  https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14829573.

The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of free play on the development of autonomy in 5-year-old children. For this purpose, a quantitative methodology with a pre-experimental design was used, using a sample of 19 children. Autonomy was assessed by means of an observation guide based on two dimensions: relationship with oneself and relationship with others, structured on a Likert-type scale. Initial results showed that 63% of the children presented low levels of autonomy, while no participant reached high levels. After the intervention with free play activities, a significant improvement was observed: 100% of the children reached a high level of autonomy, which was confirmed by the Student's t-test (p = 0.000). These findings highlight the positive impact of free play as a pedagogical strategy to foster both personal independence and social skills, allowing children to make decisions, solve problems and manage relationships without constant dependence on adults. The research concludes that free play is an effective tool for promoting integral development in early education and suggests its systematic incorporation into the educational curriculum.

Keywords : game; educational game; simulation game.

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