“ Our real problem is – what is the goal of education? Are we forming children
that are only capable of learning what is already known? Or should we try
developing creative and innovative minds, capable of discovery from the preschool
age on, throughout life?”
Jean Piaget Renowned Psychologist/child development
Childhood
We all have had our own childhood. We all know what part of our childhood impacted our lives as adults and the parts that created meaning. Most of us remember how much we played, sometimes alone with a favourite toy but mostly with our friends or siblings. We remember how much fun those days were. We can all remember how much we learned at that time about ourselves, our friends, people, animals, our environment, and our world.
As parents, we strive to do everything possible to improve our children’s lives. We want our children to develop the right skills at the right age. One of the most critical stages of development and learning skills quickly takes place in the first five years of life. At this time a child not only grows, physically and emotionally but also learns to communicate, think, and socialise and their minds are like little sponges soaking up knowledge.
Children’s most natural way to learn is through play.
Play: How it shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination and Invigorates the Soul”.
Dr Stuart Brown
What is Learning through Play?
Learning through play is a term used in education and psychology to describe how a child learns to make sense of the world around them. Through play, children develop social, and cognitive skills, mature emotionally and gain the self-confidence required to engage in new experiences and environments.
Play is what pulls together the logical and creative parts of the brain. In young children play is using their whole body in activities that help develop skills they will need later in life.
Play sets the foundation for the development of critical social and emotional knowledge and skills. Through play children learn to connect with others and collaborate, share, negotiate and resolve conflicts, as well as learn self-advocacy skills. Play teaches children leadership.
In playing children are relaxed, they enjoy themselves and have fun. A child finds out who they are through play. In this process, they develop social skills such as concentration and cooperation, encouraging the development of imagination, and motor skills.
“Nothing lights up a child’s brain like Play”.
Dr Stuart Brown
I believe that children who learn through play in their early years (birth to 7 years) at playschool benefit when they go to Primary school. At my playschool, we are devoted to this way of learning for our children. Children’s skill sets and knowledge have been enhanced through play. Play is fun, creative, instant and it causes children’s brains to be curious and imaginative. Children are able to use their natural surroundings to play, with a stone, a stick, a seed, or a weed they don’t need toys provided. Each moment is a teachable moment. I have seen first-hand the benefits of learning through play as the children that have been at my playschool have excelled in all areas in Primary school and High school.
“Imagination is more important than knowledge”.
Albert Einstein
The Benefits of learning through Play.
Here is a list of the benefits a child gains by learning through play. Looking at the list we realise that children must be in playschools and nurturing unhurried environments that believe in the benefits of play for children. This type of learning process and skills fostered in play cannot be replicated through traditional rote learning, where the emphasis is on remembering facts.
“Play creates new neural connections and tests them. It creates an arena for social interaction and learning. It creates a low-risk format for finding and developing innate skills and talents”.
Dr Stuart Brown
The List of Benefits of Learning through Play.
– Builds a healthy brain and body
– Teaches Emotional Intelligence and boosts self-esteem
– Play builds healthy friendships and relationships
– It teaches cooperation, connection, communication, collaboration
– Play teaches flexibility, problem-solving skills and critical thinking
– It builds self-confidence, imagination and curious minds and enhances creativity.
– It forges healthy parent-child relationships
– It improves work outcomes and listening skills
– It reduces stress and builds resilience
– A sense of belonging and experiencing new things
– Play challenges children’s thinking
– Play motivates, stimulates and supports children in their development skills, concepts, language, acquisition, communication skills and concentration. They reenact experiences to solidify understanding.
– Play is the earliest form of storytelling.
– Play supports positive attitudes towards learning.
– Play teaches values of kindness, compassion, support and honesty.
– Play teaches independence, perception and planning.
These are the benefits of learning through play and as you can see they are endless.
Play is important. As parents, if we want to do the very best for our children and give them the best find a playschool and environments that nurture learning through play.
“Play is the highest form of research”.
Albert Einstein