Research-Based Article
Play Based Learning
By Chelsea Penney
As adults, we tend to think of play as silly, fun time before the learning begins, but play is an essential tool for young children. Play is a child’s first interaction with his or her world. Through play, children see, touch, taste, smell and hear their environment and the people and things that surround them. They learn categorization, cause and effect and creativity. Play is the most effective means of educating young children, and it is vital to preparing children with the social emotional skills to excel when they reach academic school age. “When you are engaging in play (…) whole parts of your brain are engaged, developing crucial connections that lead to a positive development of the child,” says author Clair Mellenthin.
When children are given a safe environment to explore, they learn to independently make decisions and symbolic associations that lead to creating a rich imagination. Katie Chiavarone, blogger and author says, “It is in the context of play that children test out new knowledge and theories. They reenact experiences to solidify understanding. And it is where children first learn and express symbolic thought, a necessary precursor to literacy. Play is the earliest form of storytelling. And, it is how children learn how to negotiate with peers, problem-solve, and improvise.” When children chew on a toy while teething, climb on a chair to reach something on the counter or put toys in a wagon to bring them into the other room, they are playing and practicing important problem solving skills. When children play side by side with a friend, ask to use a toy when another child is finished or push the car to drive a student around the playground, they are developing vital social emotional skills that will prepare them for Kindergarten. When children play on the playground, pick up small objects or dance, they are strengthening muscles and gaining coordination.
At all ages, play is an important learning tool. “In general, research shows strong links between creative play and language, physical, cognitive, and social development. Play is a healthy, essential part of childhood. Infants explore their world through their senses while adults in their world foster their development and learning through playing games with them. Toddlers engage in pretend play when they imitate actions and events they have experienced in their family life. As they grow into four and five year olds, young children engage more and more in play activities that expand their knowledge of the world around them, develop their motor skills, and focus on their peers,” (Labrador Newfoundland).
At home, try to give many opportunities for play and exploration. Children should guide their own play independently, with other children and with adults. They should also be given opportunities to complete art projects, play sports and read books in more structured activity times. “Most experts in play research believe that a balanced approach is best. There should be good opportunities for genuine free play. Also, there should be some active involvement of adults in structuring some play, as in play tutoring. And, increasingly, as children get older, there is a need for direct instruction. The balance between types of play is essential,” (Labrador Newfoundland).
Don’t forget to have fun! “While play-based learning is an important aspect of preschool classrooms, it should be valued not only for learning academic skills but also for supporting children’s learning of self-regulation, emotional control, executive functioning, social understanding, creativity, and other cognitive skills, as well as being valued just for the joy play brings to children,” says Doris Bergen, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Educational Psychology. Learning through play is an essential part of early childhood but don’t take it too seriously. Have fun and enjoy some quality time.
For more information, visit:
https://education.cu-portland.edu/blog/classroom-resources/play-based-learning/
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/topics/play
https://www.ed.gov.nl.ca/edu/earlychildhood/power.html