February 20, 2026 - Elementary School Principal Blog

Dear Parents,

I hope your family had a lovely Lunar New Year holiday. After a busy 6 weeks, it was nice to have a bit of downtime. We enjoyed a few days in Chiang Mai with friends. As I reflected on the break, it reminded me of the importance of play, free time, allowing ourselves and our children to be bored.

⚖️ The Balancing Act: Structure, Play, and the Growing Brain

As parents, we often feel the pull between two extremes: the need to keep our children "on track" with a schedule and the desire to let them just be kids. The good news? Research shows that both are essential ingredients for a child’s success and well-being.

🗓️ The Power of the Daily Schedule

For elementary-aged children, the world can sometimes feel unpredictable. A consistent daily routine acts as a "neural anchor". When children know what to expect, their brains move out of a state of high alert and into a state of readiness to learn.

Emotional Regulation	Predictability reduces anxiety and power struggles. A child who knows that "homework comes after a snack" is less likely to resist the transition.
Executive Function	Following a schedule helps develop the prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain responsible for planning, time management, and self-control.
Better Sleep	Consistent routines (especially evening ones) regulate the body’s circadian rhythm, ensuring they get the deep sleep required for memory consolidation.

🔎 The Science of Free Time and Play

While schedules provide the "bones," free time provides the "soul" of development. It is a common misconception that "downward time" is "wasted time." In fact, play is a child’s most serious work.

Consolidating Learning	Research in neuroscience suggests that the brain needs "white space" to process new information. When a child moves from a structured lesson to unstructured play, their brain begins to make connections between new concepts and prior knowledge.
Cultivating Creativity	Creativity isn't just about art; it’s about divergent thinking—the ability to find multiple solutions to a single problem. In free play, children must invent their own rules, negotiate with peers, and solve "boredom" using their imagination.
Building Resilience	In a scheduled activity, an adult is usually there to fix problems. In free play, children encounter minor conflicts or physical challenges. Navigating these independently builds the "grit" and resilience they will need later in life.

💡A Quick Tip for This Week

Next time your child says, "I'm bored" try to resist the urge to provide a solution immediately.

Give them 15 minutes of that boredom; you’ll be amazed at the creative world they build to fill the gap.

Grade 4 Trip to the Care to the Least Center (CLC)

Today, our Grade 4 classes took a field trip out to CLC to engage and play with the children. It was a wonderful experience where our students got to lead out in different activities and take some time to get to know other students from a different background. It was lovely to see the inclusivity of our ISY students.

Wishing you all a joyful weekend ahead. I hope to see many of you at the Fun Fair tomorrow.

Regards,

Mr. Geoff Heney
Elementary School Principal

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