What is Play-Based Learning?

When we think of children learning, we may picture them in a classroom setting, with a teacher writing letters and numbers on the board. And, although an academic curriculum is one way for little ones to learn, there is another approach that has been proven to be highly effective in teaching children academic skills, as well as social, emotional, and cognitive skills. As the saying goes, “Play is the work of children.” When children play, they take risks, engage their imagination, learn to problem-solve, and more. Play-based learning is an educational approach that appeals to the natural curiosity of children and incorporates play into the learning process. 

From the moment your little one is born, they begin to explore the world around them, taking in and responding to their environment. As they gain more control over their body, they make more discoveries. You can almost see the cogs turning in their brain as they explore cause-and-effect, such as dropping their cup from their high chair the second you place it back on the tray (“Wow, it makes a funny noise when I drop it from up here!” or “Every time I drop it, Mama bends down!”). Although you may be exasperated after replacing the cup for the tenth time, it’s a fun game for your little one to make the connections between their actions and the reactions that they cause. Children are natural scientists, and, when given the freedom to do so, are ready to experiment and learn through play.

Play-based learning has five integral elements. First, play must be self-chosen and self-directed, meaning children should decide how to play, when to play, and how long to play. Second, the activity must be enjoyable to maintain their interest, so that they can learn through trial and error. Third, play should be unstructured because free play gives children a sense of freedom and control over what they do. Fourth, play-based learning is process-oriented, with it being more about the journey than the ending. Lastly, play-based learning is imaginative, as role play and pretend play encourage social development, foster empathy, and develop creativity.

Many preschools follow a play-based curriculum because of its merits, but you can also facilitate play-based learning in your own home. This can help your little one get the most out of playtime and develop a love for exploring and learning! Here’s how to do it:

1. Use open-ended toys

Although closed-ended toys are great for teaching important skills like concentration and perseverance because they provide a structure to work with, they don’t leave room for creativity and imagination the way that open-ended toys do. Some examples of closed-ended toys are puzzles, shape sorters, memory matching, or books, and they’re an important part of your little one’s development, too. But, it’s just as important to have plenty of open-ended toys like dolls, blocks, sensory materials, play dough, and a play kitchen. These kinds of toys leave room for creativity and imagination, and also support independence and exploration.

*We love Toki Play Cubes for stacking, knocking down, balancing, and rough-and-tumble play!

2. Let your child lead play

It can understandably be tempting for parents to coordinate play. After all, our little ones rely on our guidance for everything else! But, when it comes to play, children are so creative and open-minded that they can easily think outside the box. If your little one invites you to play with them, let them take the lead in directing play. The play should be unstructured, without your influence or suggestions, so that they can explore without an objective and are free to make mistakes. Making mistakes is an integral part of their learning! Rather than correcting and micromanaging during playtime, follow your little one’s lead and allow for a little failure here and there. 

3. Go outside

We all know how important it is for kids to play outside, and that’s because being outside isn’t just great for their physical and emotional health, but also for their cognitive development. Just being outside is an enriching experience that engages all of their senses and has lots of potential for creativity, fun, and risky play. Children can build, climb, explore, and experiment in a rich environment that invites questions and new contexts for learning. Head to your local park and let your little one play in the sand, on the grass, and among the trees. You can also set up a mud kitchen in your backyard, where they can get messy and explore natural materials like sticks, leaves, dirt, and rocks.