Play-Based Learning: How play is a powerful tool for fostering children’s development and learning.

Little ones have an enormous capacity for learning and are eager to expand their knowledge of the world. The first 8 years of life are the most impactful when it comes to the development of cognitive skills, social skills, and emotional well-being. The speed at which young children learn is unsurpassed, which is why your little one’s preschool education lays the groundwork for success.

At Little Phase Creche, our days include age-appropriate individual and group lessons, and many opportunities for play-based learning. Learning through play in preschool allows children to take initiative by practicing new skills and working through challenges. Some ways that we learn through playing include:

Play-based Learning at Home and School

Incorporating playful learning techniques at home and at school is greatly beneficial. Children learn by doing, with some easy examples being letter tiles for spelling, Legos for shape formations, and blocks for counting. Actively engaging with their environment without too much restriction is a meaningful way for preschoolers to make sense of the world.

At Little Phase Creche, our days include age-appropriate individual and group lessons, and many opportunities for play-based learning. Learning through play in preschool allows children to take initiative by practicing new skills and working through challenges. Some ways that we learn through playing include:

Art Activities: Drawing, painting, and moulding with play dough, which provide children the opportunity to express themselves creatively and use their imaginations. From colour and shape recognition to learning how to paste, the sky is the limit! Art activities also strengthen children’s fine motor skills and improves confidence.

Unstructured and Structured Play: Unstructured play is child-initiated play with no defined objectives. This type of play encourages children to think outside the box and make their own choices and is great for practicing independence. Structured play has clear rules and instructions to guide little ones, helping them understand objectives and work towards goals.

Pretend Play: Children love acting and pretend play, and they learn by watching or engaging! Some ideas include pretending to be a dinosaur or feeding a doll and putting it to sleep. There is so much to learn through pretend play. As parents or teachers, we can pretend with puppets when telling stories, or we can pretend to kick a ball that is not there.  At home, you can switch out TV time for playful and fun interactions with your child. Play guessing games and puzzle games to strengthen the brain with key skills like working memory, task initiation, and organization. A simple game of hide and seek teaches concepts like object permanence and promotes flexible thinking, while also fostering independence and emotional control. There are many ways to be creative and teach your little one through play-based learning.

Play-based Learning is Fun and Important

Learning through play in preschool allows children to forge connections with their peers. Social skills start to develop as they learn how to share, negotiate, set boundaries, and resolve conflicts. Becoming comfortable with these fundamentals during their formative years gives children the tools to navigate relationships and manage social challenges as they grow up.

One important way that young children learn is by playing. When it comes to your child’s learning journey at Little Phase Creche, we incorporate many elements of play-based learning into our school days, in addition to academic learning through the CAPS curriculum. This balance between playful learning techniques and structure in the classroom results in a productive and happy learning environment where little ones thrive!

Are you interested in learning more about our preschool? Check out the Little Phase Creche Parent’s Guide.