The Benefits of Mixed Age Play

Last week the kids spent nearly all day every day playing with a group of friends with kids ranging in age from 2-12 years old. They played outside for hours and needed only minimal parental guidance.

They played on scooters, bikes and skateboards. They threw footballs, kicked soccer balls and took turns on a pogo stick. They yelled "Car!" and quickly moved everything, including toddlers, out of the way when they saw a fellow camper driving through the campground.

In a school setting, this wide range of ages would never be together, especially not for hours and hours of outdoor play. And yet kids absolutely thrive in mixed-age groups.

The older ones keep an eye on the younger kids, keeping them safe and involving them in play. They lead the group in working together on big ideas and teach younger siblings and friends new games and skills.

The younger ones learn from their older siblings and friends and become more independent and confident. They bring humor, imagination and silliness to the group dynamic.

Imaginative play becomes more creative. Conflict and arguments are minimal and the children with conflict-resolution skills (often the older children but not always) typically help to find a solution quickly. Mixed age play is more collaborative and less competitive.

Mixed-age play encourages children to be more open-minded in who they perceive as potential playmates and friends. It inspires children to look at the world in a different way than those who only play with same-aged peers.

As adults, it is very rare to be in a group of only people who are of the same age. As adults we learn to work, socialize and live with others of various backgrounds and ages. Mixed-age play provides a fun and low stakes environment for children to learn and practice the skill of socializing with a wide range of ages.

Playing with mixed-age groups has short term benefits of learning the conflict-resolution skills and cooperative skills children will use in childhood and gives children the opportunity to develop essential social skills that will be used throughout adulthood as well.