Children make sense of their world by playing and exploring; they gain invaluable skills through play.^1-3 More educators are recognising the benefits of playful learning, and this approach has proved to be especially beneficial in early childhood development.^1-3

 

Learning is so much more than memorising and repeating facts. Successful learning also teaches children how to interact with each other and the world as they grow and develop.

 

Rather than positioning schoolwork and learning as the “opposite” of play, a growing number of today’s schools and educational programmes are moving towards models where play, work and learning are seamlessly interwoven.

What is Playful Learning?

 

Playful learning can be defined as an approach to learning that is driven by the learners’ needs and interests, and uses play (such as hands-on interactions, outdoor exploration and/or practical experiments) as an integral part of the teaching process.^1-3 It’s the type of learning that requires active engagement, sparks curiosity and creates meaningful experiences.^1-3

 

Why is Playful Learning So Important in Early Childhood?

 

Learning never stops – we all learn new things throughout our lives – but young children learn at a much higher speed.¹ Decades of scientific research have shown that the first 8 years of a child’s life are the most critical period for development.¹ These are the years when children need to build a foundation for their future success, which includes developing their cognitive, social and emotional skills.¹

 

Playful learning is an excellent (and enjoyable) way to help children build a strong foundation.

 

Top Benefits of Playful Learning (in the Classroom and At Home)

 

Here are some of the key ways your child can benefit from a playful learning approach at school and home.^1-3

 

• Playful learning gives children a better sense of their own abilities, helping to develop their self-worth.

 

• Children gain confidence as they realise how many things they can do independently (with responsible adult supervision). This feels empowering and promotes a sense of responsibility as they grow.

 

• Learning through play fosters better communication, by helping children to develop their language skills and listening skills.

 

• Children develop their social skills by learning to cooperate, share, negotiate and work together towards a common goal. They learn to value others’ ideas as well as their own.

 

• Learning hands-on helps children with sorting and analysing information, critical thinking and the development of problem-solving skills.

 

• Active playful learning can help children to develop physical skills like hand-eye coordination.

 

• Play sparks creativity and imagination.

 

• Being allowed to experiment, ask questions and make mistakes keeps children feeling engaged and curious to learn more.

 

• If young children see learning as fun rather than a chore or a burden, they will develop a lifelong passion for learning!

 

There is a growing body of support for the notion that if more schools start integrating social and emotional skills development into their curriculums, more children will grow up with the tools they need to succeed.⁴

 

Playful Learning Resources for Parents

 

Find out more about playful learning and the importance of play during early childhood development:

 

• Playful learning in South African schools
• Play Africa on the importance of play
• Play Africa downloadable activity packs
• UNICEF and The LEGO Foundation on learning through play
• The Pedagogy of Play blog

 

References

1. Learning through play. The LEGO Foundation in support of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). October 2018. https://www.unicef.org/sites/default/files/2018-12/UNICEF-Lego-Foundation-Learning-through-Play.pdf
2. Indicators of playful learning: Three South African schools. Developed by Pedagogy of Play at Project Zero, Harvard Graduate School of Education. 2019. https://pz.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/SA%20indicators_2-pager_color.pdf
3. Active Robots blog. How playful learning benefits the classroom. June 2019. https://www.active-robots.com/our-blog/how-playful-learning-benefits-the-classroom/
4. World Economic Forum. How playful learning helps children develop social and emotional skills. May 2022. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/05/how-playful-learning-helps-children-develop-social-and-emotional-skills/