The Gift of Unstructured Time—and What It Teaches Children

Mrs. Bunmi
3 minutes ago
4 min read

Summer is often a time to slow down, step away from routines, and give children something they don’t always have during the school year: time and space to simply be.

While rest is important, the slower days of summer offer children something equally valuable. They have opportunities to explore, create, solve problems, make choices, and discover interests without an adult directing every moment. Unstructured time can sometimes be mistaken for boredom. But what looks like boredom to an adult may actually be the beginning of something wonderful for a child.

A quiet afternoon can become an elaborate fort. A pile of cardboard can become an invention. A walk outside can lead to questions about insects, plants, or the changing seasons.

Summer may be ending, but the qualities children developed during those slower months—independence, creativity, curiosity, problem-solving, and confidence—are exactly the qualities we want to nurture throughout the school year.

Here are some ways to carry the spirit of summer discovery into the months ahead.

Keep Exploring The World Around You

Nature is one of the greatest classrooms. Perhaps your child spent part of the summer collecting rocks, watching insects, planting something, exploring a trail, or simply noticing the world around them.

That sense of wonder can continue throughout the school year. Take a walk and notice what has changed. Look for signs of a new season. Visit a park. Watch the clouds. Collect leaves. Ask questions together.

The goal isn't to turn every outing into a lesson. Instead, give your child opportunities to observe, wonder, and ask questions.

Curiosity is at the heart of meaningful learning.

Keep reading part of your routine

As summer schedules give way to school routines, reading together can be a wonderful way to create moments of connection.

Make books part of your daily rhythm—even if it's only for a few minutes before bed.

Allow your child to choose books that reflect their interests. Read a story more than once if they ask. Pause to talk about something that catches their attention.

Reading isn't simply preparation for academic success. It expands vocabulary, strengthens comprehension, fuels imagination, and helps children develop a genuine love of learning.

Leave room for creativity

Summer often gives children the freedom to create without worrying about whether something is “right.”

That freedom is worth preserving.

Keep simple, open-ended materials available at home—paper, paint, clay, blocks, recycled materials, craft supplies, or anything else that invites experimentation. Rather than providing detailed instructions or telling your child what to make, try asking:

“What could you create?”

When children are free to experiment, they develop problem-solving skills, confidence, creativity, and the ability to follow their own ideas.

Carry Kindness Into The Classroom

Summer is also an opportunity to practice something that matters in every season: grace and courtesy.

Encourage children to greet others, express gratitude, help siblings, show patience, write thank-you notes, and consider how their actions affect the people around them.

These moments may seem small, but they help children develop empathy, respect, and awareness of others.

At Montessori School of Franklin, social and emotional development is an essential part of preparing the whole child. Academic growth and character development go hand in hand.

Keep Following The Child

One of the most beautiful things about summer is seeing what naturally captures a child's attention when there isn't a prescribed activity waiting for them.

Maybe they became fascinated by animals. Perhaps they wanted to cook every day. Maybe they spent hours building, drawing, collecting, reading, or asking questions about how things work. Pay attention to those interests.

If your child loves animals, explore wildlife together. If they enjoy cooking, try a new recipe. If they're fascinated by science, conduct a simple experiment.

Following a child's natural curiosity creates joyful learning experiences—and helps children discover that their own questions can lead them somewhere meaningful.

This is an important part of the Montessori philosophy: follow the child.

Choose Real-World Experiences Over Constant Entertainment

Technology certainly has its place, but children also need opportunities to engage their hands, minds, and hearts in the real world.

Building a fort, painting a picture, cooking a meal, caring for a plant, exploring a park, fixing something, or creating an invention can provide rich opportunities for learning.

As the school year begins, consider preserving some of those screen-free moments rather than filling every free minute with entertainment.

Children don't always need something to do. Sometimes, they need the freedom to figure out what to do.

What Summer Teaches Us About Learning

As summer comes to an end, we don't have to leave the spirit of summer behind.

The independence children practiced, the questions they asked, the things they created, the problems they solved, and the world they explored all become part of who they are when they walk into the classroom.

At Montessori School of Franklin, we believe children are naturally capable, curious, and eager to learn. Our role is not to fill every moment with instruction, but to create an environment where children can explore, discover, practice, and grow.

The slower days of summer remind us of something important: children don't need constant entertainment to learn. They need time, opportunity, and the freedom to discover.

And those are gifts worth carrying with us into the new school year.

Mrs. Bunmi began her Montessori teaching career in Nigeria in 2006. She joined MSF in 2008 and has been a cornerstone of the Montessori School of Franklin for more than 18 years. With an Association Montessori International (AMI) Certification and a BSC in Microbiology, Mrs. Bunmi's expertise is both vast and profound. Her unwavering dedication to the Montessori philosophy is a testament to her belief that "Montessori is not a trend; it is a philosophy and it works. The method is consistent, and the materials are beautiful; the materials are the same in any Montessori classroom around the world." Beyond her professional accolades, including being named The Nashville Scene's best private school teacher as well as Teacher of the Month by WKRN and TN Lottery, Mrs. Bunmi’s life is enriched by her love for cooking and cherishing moments with her husband and two daughters. Her passion for nurturing relationships is as profound as her impact in the classroom, making her a truly exceptional educator.