Learning through Play
What’s the first thing your child wants to do when he/she first wakes up in the morning? They could have a snack, drink a bottle of milk, or have a dummy for a little while, but that is probably because those are habits we created on their routine.
What a child really wants to do is to GET UP and PLAY!
They want to explore the world around them, copy actions they’ve seen from adults and peers, get toys upside down to try all the possibilities, get outfits dirty, make a mess, and the list goes on….
Anything that involves this simple word “play” has great and significant benefits for children at any age!
What’s Play-based learning?
Not only a very popular term used in Child Care Centers or books about children’s development. Play-based learning is simply “to let the child guides” while they are playing. It’s about the whole process that kids embark on not seeking to achieve any specific outcome.
It may not look obvious to everyone, but, when children are playing they are making hundreds of new discoveries.
The benefits of play
How often do you see children putting a baby to sleep, patting a puppy dog? or even cooking dinner for everyone in the room?
Those are fabulous opportunities for children to learn about caring for others, emotions, language, and social and life skills.
Through playing children get a sense of identity whilst working with others, expanding imagination, curiosity, focus, creativity and much more!
How children learn through play
Play can take place in many different forms. It happens in different environments, either indoors or outdoors, with a range of settings, involving one or more children, it can be active or passive and even has a special meaning for those who are participating in the play.
When children are engaged with a purposeful play experience they are free to investigate their critical thinking and their abilities to listen and express themselves.
How can I help my child learn through play?
Parents and Educators are part of the learning process of any child. By creating constructive and meaningful spaces and open learning environments we are encouraging opportunities for children to learn while they are playing. Providing resources that will contribute to their interests and speak to their imagination is a great way to support their learning!
Long-term benefits
The Early Years are the foundation for all learning. Every child has their own pace, interests and different ways to play and to develop.
It’s through play that children increase their capability of observing others’ actions, get involved with a group of children, increasing communication skills and independence while building their own personalities and preferences, which will lead to more confident teenagers and adults.
Have this in mind…
Play gives the children a chance to express and practice what they are learning. That’s how they will show and tell us what they have been observing, listening, and absorbing everything around them. It’s through play that their little world becomes real!
What open learning play opportunities are you providing to your children? How do you get involved with their play?
My name is Natalia, sweetly called "Lala" since I started working with children. I am the owner of Lala’s Family Day Care and my passion is to make positive connections with my little ones, providing high-quality learning experiences. I believe that every child is unique and they grow the best when they feel valued, loved, happy and secure.