Playbase learning as a tool for child development
The old adage ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull lad’ has never been more accurate. Many parents feel that the only way to achieve success is to read, so most often wants to stop their child from playing due to ignorance and disbelief that play base learning is a tool for child’s growth and development .
Despite it is good for children to read, we as parents/guardians must also be flexible enough to allow children do other things that can enhance their learning most especially play. Are you among those that doesn’t see play base learning as very important area in upbringing children?
Herein this article, you will be exposed to the meaning of play, why play as well as reading, plays very important role in your child’s learning, assimilating and success in lifelong learning.
Parents often come across programs that advertise themselves as “play-based learning” in their quest for the appropriate preschool program but, still’ doesn’t understand what it means.
Fact is, in the field of early childhood education, the term “play-based learning” is commonly used. What exactly does it imply? How does it prepare children for kindergarten and related lifelong learning experience? Read on to find out.
What is play-based learning?
Early childhood education based on child-led and open-ended play is known as play-based learning. You’re right if you imagine preschoolers’ finger painting or “playing house/pretend” as form of playbase learning.
Play is a self-directed, pleasurable activity with no predetermined outcome. This type of activity, believe it or not, lays the groundwork for a youngster to become a curious and enthusiastic learner later in life.
Play-based learning aids in the development of social skills, learning motivation, and even language and numeracy skills in youngsters. Play involves taking initiative, paying attention, and being curious about the immediate world.
Parents also love to read: Importance of childhood play
Children are pre-programmed to perform exactly what will help them learn and flourish(play). The drive to play stems from a natural desire to get a better understanding of the universe.
Elements of Play-based learning
The following aspects are included in play-based learning:
- Enjoyable: Play is a pleasurable experience for a child. This emotional component is crucial. During the game, there may be occasional difficulties or arguments, but the overall experience is enjoyable.
- Self-chosen: A youngster chooses whether or not to play, how they will play, and how long they will play. An adult may initiate play in the sense that he or she welcomes or proposes it, but the child is in charge of the rest.
- Unstructured: During play, a youngster has plenty of opportunity to explore and discover. They are guided by their own desires rather than by any set of rules or goals.
- Process Oriented: There is no end or learning goal in a process-oriented approach. Instead, it’s the game’s process that matters.
- Make believe: Imagination, ‘make believe,’ or ‘playing house or pretend,’ are all common elements of play.
Advantages of play based learning.
Advantages of playbase learning includes:
- Allows children to choose their own activities and topics, which keeps them engaged. –
- Aids kindergarten readiness.
- Play promotes the development of social skills, and children with social skills are more likely to succeed academically later in life.
- Children who participate in play-based programs perform better on self-regulation, cognitive flexibility, and working memory tests.
- Self-control and impulse control are indicators of future academic performance.
- Play can help children learn to read.
- Play-based activities, such as imaginary play, provide an excellent environment for the development of literacy abilities, as well as assisting youngsters in making links between spoken and written modes of expression and understanding the structure and meaning of words.
- Social interaction between the child and the educator, as well as between the kid and their peers, is a key component of play-based learning.
- As children interact, negotiate, share their ideas, and solve problems with their peers, they develop social skills. Educators have a key role in facilitating this relationship.
Importance of playbase learning as a curriculum
Highlighted below explain importance of playbase learning as a curriculum:
- A curriculum focused on the interests of the children ‘play base learning’ can help children create a more positive attitude toward learning.
- Instead of simply allowing kids to memorize facts, encouraging their curiosity might help children retain information and drive them to try new things.
- Play is a fertile ground for imagination and creativity. These abilities are necessary for youngsters to solve problems and resolve conflicts. Early development of these talents will aid children in approaching issues and solving difficulties in a creative manner in the future.
- Children learn more about their emotions and how to control them as they participate in play-based learning activities. Empathy and emotional competence emerge naturally as kids become more aware of their own and others’ feelings.
Good to read: Playbase learning activities for toddlers
Role of play-based environment in children development?
You could be thinking to yourself, “How is my child learning if they just play all day?” What do children learn from play? Though, it appears that your child is simply having a good time, play has a significant impact on their development in every manner.
‘Playing is so vital to every child’s growth and development that the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights has designated it a fundamental right of every child.’
How playbase learning contribute to child’s development?
Play contributes to the following types of child development, according to studies:
Development of the social-emotional system
Social and emotional learning is an integral part of education and human development. A system process by which young and adults acquire knowledge, skills, attitudes to develop healthy identities, achieve personal and collective goals, manage emotions and show empathy for others.
When kids learn few things mentioned above among others through playbase and efficiently implement the knowledge gain, behaviors and skills needed to understand and regulate emotions are positively impacted.
Children easily understand how to achieve set positive goals, feel and feel compassion for others, build and maintain healthy relationships, and make sound decisions, they are said to be “emotionally mature.” they are engaging in social-emotional learning.
Play helps children develop socially and emotionally as they view the world from new perspectives, grasp the distinctions between themselves and others, learn how to engage with others, and more.
During play, children can try on different roles to understand how other people feel and think. They’re exploring the possibilities of their activities in the actual world when they role play and act out scenarios.
Children learn how to collaborate and work together as a result of the social side of play. It provides children with opportunity to learn how to deal with disagreement.
Playing with others also aids in the development of a child’s sense of self. They have the ability to initiate play and make decisions, which gives them the confidence and motivation to learn.
Children are exposed to process vs. product-focused art when they create art in a play-based learning environment. There are no rules or guidelines to help the youngsters in process-focused creative activities.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to creating play of this type. Meanwhile, product-focused art is directed by the teacher’s examples and is based on instructions.
There is a ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ way to create in this form of art. Children benefit from process-focused art because it allows them to express their feelings or ideas in whatever way they want, and they feel successful no matter what they create. Playbase learning has been shown to relieve stress and provide an outlet for eradicating worries.
Parents can’t do without reading: How to make a child successful in early childhood education?
Cognitive development (Development of the mind)
Cognitive development refers to a child’s increasing ability to digest information using their intellect. Problem-solving, language acquisition, and sensation interpretation are all part of it.
Playbase learning has been shown to aid in the development of a healthy brain. It also stimulates a child’s mind and aids in the development of early literacy and language skills, as well as feeling and perception in area of basic scientific and arithmetic skills.
Making collages or adding names to pictures can help children learn to represent ideas with visuals, use letters to express meaning, and comprehend the purpose of writing of which children employ their best of imaginations skills while they engage in playbase learning.
Symbols are important in imagination; take for instance a laundry basket can represent an automobile, a stick can represent a fishing rod, and so on during play.
You can also consider the fact that letters are symbols and understanding symbols is essential for reading and writing. Mathematical concepts and numbers are in the same boat which children can easily learn and assimilate when involve in play base learning.
Children utilize language to communicate with one another during dramatic play. They use their language and storytelling talents to express and act out stories to depict meaning to what the are expressing.
As they discover how the world works, children develop a basic comprehension of scientific principles. Consider what occurs when you stack one block on top of another or how a bird’s feathers fell, related thing can be explored through play.
Physical growth and development
Physical development refers to a child’s general and fine motor capabilities as well as how they use their bodies. Children gain muscular strength and coordination when playing, as well as exploring diverse tactile stimuli and getting a good amount of activity.
Children are exposed to a variety of tactile experiences through art and play. They are introduced to the sensations of wooden blocks and soft fuzzy toys, wet paint, and more.
When compared to passive types of entertainment such as watching TV or playing iPad games, play boosts physical activity.
Jumping, climbing, swinging, running, and moving during play helps children develop muscle mass and coordination. “The highest form of research is play.” – Einstein, Albert.
Coming this far shows you now understand meaning of play related to playbase learning, key areas which playbase learning enhance growth during upbringing and why playbase learning as well as reading, plays very important role in your child’s growth, development and success in lifelong learning.
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