Children learn more from playing freely after school than doing more organised after school activities.
Task 2
There is an ongoing debate about whether children learn best in the outdoors or in a structured environment. I personally agree that free play is more beneficial because it allows children to interact with their environment and build social relationships.
Structured activities, while often educational, can sometimes hinder a child’s development. These activities are usually more rigid, and children are less likely to have choices in their participation. If they are not genuinely interested, their motivation and participation can decline. Furthermore, structured activities often leave little room for spontaneous play, which is essential for meaningful interactions with peers and family. This lack of free time can lead to stress, anxiety, and a sense of pressure to meet certain standards or perform well.
In contrast, free play offers several key benefits. It encourages creativity and imagination by allowing children to explore different roles and scenarios, which enhances their cognitive development. In addition, outdoor play helps improve social skills, as children learn how to resolve conflicts, negotiate, and work as a team in an informal setting.
Another benefit of unstructured play is that it promotes independence and decision-making. Children gain a sense of autonomy in deciding what to play and how to play. Additionally, experimenting with different materials and observing the results helps develop both scientific thinking and mathematical skills, as they often calculate distances, scores, and outcomes during play.
In conclusion, children can gain a wide range of skills through outdoor activities, including critical thinking, social interaction, and physical and mental growth. These benefits far outweigh the benefits derived from structured activities.
The essay is logically organized and ideas are connected well. The introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion are clearly identifiable. Transitions between ideas are smooth and effective.
Suggestions
- Consider using a wider range of linking words to show more sophisticated relationships between ideas.
The essay demonstrates a good command of a broad lexical repertoire. A variety of vocabulary is used effectively and appropriately. There is evidence of less common and idiomatic language. However, some sentences can be revised to include more sophisticated vocabulary.
The essay uses a wide range of complex structures. There are few grammatical errors, but they do not impede communication.
The essay addresses the task effectively and provides a well-developed response to the question. The writer’s position is clear and supported by relevant examples. However, the introduction can be improved to include the topic’s significance.
Suggestions
- Consider revising the introduction to include the significance of the topic. For example, you can start with a sentence that highlights the importance of the debate on children’s learning styles in modern education.