Children learn best when learning is fun, and it gets even better when it is play-based. Play-based learning is a common word we hear in recent times. Many Nurseries in Dubai follow Play-Based Learning.
Let us look into the various benefits of introducing Play-based learning in early childhood and the importance it plays in the academic, physical, emotional, and social development of a child. This article includes recent research studies that show why Play-based research is an effective way to introduce learning to young learners.
Play is the highest form of research
What Is Play-Based Learning
Play is a voluntary, enjoyable activity that has no particular purpose or end goal. It helps to lay a strong foundation for a child to grow into excited and curious learners. If you are picturing a child playing with building blocks or a child being creative with play dough, yes! You have got it!
Through play-based learning, children develop various skills such as problem-solving, creativity, and communication. We at Wonder Cubs Nursery include hands-on and enjoyable activities in our curriculum, as play-based learning lays a strong foundation for learning and guides the child to take an active role in learning not only in early childhood but in later stages of life too.
Key Benefits Of Play-Based Learning
Cognitive Development:
Improves the brain development in children, making them more efficient in their thinking, learning, and problem-solving skills.
Learning through playing helps children develop a positive attitude of learning that will stay with them throughout their journey of learning.
Social and Emotional Growth:
Interactive play with peers and caregivers helps toddlers understand emotions and develop empathy.
Provides an opportunity to develop social skills such as cooperation, conflict resolution, and negotiation.
Helps the child develop a sense of self-confidence and self-worth.
Physical development:
Children are always eager to move around and to use their sensory skills to explore and understand various things around them.
They enjoy doing activities like moving, lifting, balancing, and throwing objects while building their coordination and fine motor skills.
Play-based learning encourages a variety of hands-on learning activities, which promotes the physical development of children.
Enhance Creativity and Imagination:
Children use their imagination and come up with new ideas.
Encourages them to think outside of the box.
Help to develop the skills needed for creative and critical thinking by boosting the child’s confidence level.
Improve Problem-Solving Capacity:
Two key factors when it comes to problem-solving are critical thinking and independence, which are promoted in play-based learning.
Activities like making a tower out of building blocks are examples where children are highly engaged in critical thinking and problem-solving.
Children engaging in hands-on learning are constantly reacting to new knowledge and experiences about how the world works, which in turn creates a sense of self-achievement.
Love Learning:
Play-based learning provides an opportunity for children to learn about themselves and others in a safe and supportive environment.
Learning through play and fun develops a positive attitude and love towards learning that stays with them throughout their life.
The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) emphasizes that play is very important for a child’s development and overall well-being. The AAP stresses that parents and caregivers should prioritize time for unstructured play (free play), as it is essential for healthy child development.
Examples For Play-Based Activities For Toddlers
Let us look at some examples of play-based activities:
Building Blocks:
Toddlers use building blocks to stack and build castles, towers, cars, and various other items.
This helps to improve hand-eye coordination, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
Shape Sorting:
Using shape sorters, children match different shapes to corresponding holes.
This activity helps to improve their understanding of various shapes and match them to the objects around them.
It also improves their fine motor skills.
Pretend Play:
Children love to play pretend play with their parents or caregivers using soft toys or dolls.
Such games help improve their interactive, communication, and social skills while sparking their imagination.
Playdough Fun:
Children always enjoy playing with various color play doughs, reshaping them to look like animals, fruits, and whichever shape comes into their imagination.
While children involve in squeezing, rolling, and molding the playdough into different shapes, it promotes fine motor skills, hand strength, and creativity.
Animal Sounds and Movements:
Encouraging children to mimic the sounds and movements of different animals improves their listening skills and motor skills.
Things To Consider During Play-Based Learning
While children are involved in playful learning, parents and caregivers must consider various factors to ensure that the experience is safe, effective, and enriching. Some of these are listed below:
Safety First:
Make sure that the toys and materials provided to the children are age-appropriate and free of small parts that may cause a choking hazard.
Take extra precautions to ensure that the play area is safe from any sharp objects and edges, heavy furniture that has the risk of toppling over, or any item that may cause potential hazards.
Ensure that there is a responsible adult to supervise the children to prevent accidents.
Sensory Development:
Provide a range of toys and items that engage the senses, for example, textured objects, and toys with varied colors, sounds, and smells.
Sensory play promotes cognitive development and helps children to better understand the world around them.
Flexibility and Patience:
Parents and caregivers should allow open-ended play, which means there are no specific “right” and “wrong” outcomes.
Children learn through “trial and error,” and play-based learning focuses on the process and not the end result.
Actively interact with the children during the play by asking open-ended questions or encouraging them to talk about what they are doing.
This helps to improve their communication skills and also expand their vocabulary.
Be patient and allow children to explore, experiment, and be fully engaged in their play.
Social Development and Emotional Support:
Encourage children to be involved in group play and or with peers whenever possible.
This helps to develop social skills like sharing, communication, and taking turns.
Play should be stress-free, so make sure to provide a positive environment for learning and growth.
Be responsive to the child’s emotions during play, offering encouragement when needed, to help them cope with their disappointments and tantrums.
Play-based learning is widely used in many nurseries in Dubai as it is the most effective and fun way of learning. Various benefits that children develop through play-based learning are added factors that make it an internationally accepted method. Introducing learning healthily and positively at a young age will have a massive impact on the child’s learning journey throughout their life.
