While searching for the best program for starting your child’s studies, you must have come across kids Play-Based learning. The word play doesn’t fit well with studies for some parents, especially when it comes to studies. You must have an obvious concept of play-based learning for young kids.
What is Play-Based Learning?
Play-based learning is early childhood learning while at play. According to Einstein, Play is a child’s work. Kids are always learning something new and valuable while they are playing. Different activities while playing help the child to become a keen and excited learner later in life.
Young kids have a very short attention span. Kids lose interest and motivation if they are made to sit for long hours and are asked to write letters and alphabets daily. In comparison, play-based learning increases their interest, Problem-solving skills, language, and relationships. Children naturally select the very activities during play which help them learn and grow.
Key Elements of Play-Based Learning
Here are key elements of play-based learning for early childhood
*Child-Lead Play-Based Learning
In this program, children decide what to play and for how long. An adult must be there to look after the kids, but the rest is determined by kids only. In this learning system, kids are deliberately provided with a well-designed structural environment to play.
Children are given multiple options to explore their interests and skills. Most importantly, the kids must enjoy playing and should not be forced by ideas from teachers. There is no goal to achieve at the end of the day; the whole process is self-learning.
*Teacher-Lead Play-Based Learning
Teacher-led play-based learning is also play-based learning but with a teacher’s help. The teacher has a clear goal in this program and decides what the children should play.
The teacher provides an environment in which children play and learn with the teacher’s involvement. The teacher provides the material from the classroom to play with, for example, coloring worksheets, roll-paly accessories, and Recognition of shapes, letters, and alphabets through board games or flash cards.
Children get excited while playing games and learn through a properly structured environment and a skilled teacher’s help. According to researchers, both learning systems can be combined to achieve desired results. Kids are allowed to play and develop social-emotional skills with the help of teacher-guided playful lessons.
Benefits of Play-Based Learning
It is observed that children who have Play-based learning in their early years have certain assistance in their mental and physical growth. Some of the benefits and advantages of Play-based learning are
1-Refined Motor Skills
Kids are allowed to play outdoor as well as indoor games. Children develop fine motor skills through playing with different stuff. They know the textures, colors, shapes, and sizes of the objects they explore during play. They develop problem-solving skills by knowing which activity can harm them, which helps them later in their life.
2-Social and Emotional Skills
Kids learn to play with each other and interact with other kids. It helps them improve their social skills. They acquire a better understanding of managing their emotions. They communicate with each other in a more friendly way and learn to share and care.
Playing with each other helps kids to develop friendships and empathy toward each other. They know how to deal with any dispute and control their anger during an argument. Playing independently makes it enjoyable and exciting for kids, who learn everything faster.
3-Creativity and Imagination
When children play, they imagine things and scenarios. They use their creativity to use different objects. They can imagine themselves to be anyone in the world and act accordingly. They become resourceful and create anything they want to play with.
For example, a twig can be a magic wand or a box can be a supermarket. Kids learn how the world around them works. An open mind is always more creative; the only limit is imagination.
4-Confidence and Decision-Making Skills
When kids know they can decide whatever they want to play, it gives them confidence which shows in their personality and decision-making. They learn how to manage a dispute and stand up for themselves. Children learn to communicate with each other while playing. These skills are not taught in typical learning programs where students cannot interact with other kids independently.
5-Physical Development
Play-based learning also helps in physical development. Kids indulge in different physical activities while playing, which boosts their immune system, metabolism, and muscle growth.
Outdoor games provide a better alternative to passive entertainment, like watching TV or playing video games. When young kids involve physically in play like jumping, running, climbing, or hide and seek, their gross motor and cognitive skills improve, and they have better coordination.
Factors to Look for in a Play-Based Learning Program
As a parent, when you are on a school hunt, consider the school offering the best facilities for kids to have Play-based learning.
The school should have proper playgrounds for outdoor activities.
The classrooms should be spacious, well-equipped, and designed in such a way as to engage children in play-based learning.
The classroom should have classified areas for different activities for children.
The children can play with whatever they want and choose stuff according to their choice.
Incorporate Play-Based Learning at Home
Play-based learning can be started at home before a kid reaches school-going age.
Parents should allow children to play outdoors as well as indoors. Parents should be involved in all kids’ activities like singing and dancing, playing with balls or blocks, playing hide and seek, digging in the mud, etc.
Pros and Cons of Play-Based Learning Program and Academic Program
In play-based learning, a child is more confident, creative, and ready to learn. Play-based learning keeps a child from becoming bored and losing interest in learning new things. Ha has more developed gross and fine motor skills. However, he may not have been introduced to reading and writing letters and numbers.
While in academic learning, a child can quickly get bored and lose interest in learning due to the monotonous pattern of reading and writing. Teacher-led learning might confine their creativity and motor skills. But they have the advantage of reading and writing numbers and letters better.
