Play is the foundation for learning, because it nourishes every aspect of children’s development. Before a child can even mentally grasp what is being taught at school, he/she must develop cognitive skills through the process of creative play and the use of his/her imagination. Even though people think otherwise, and argue against this, play is considered to be a necessary tool for a child’s growth. Thus, it is what sets the stage for cognitive, intellectual, social, and physical development.
Learning occurs when children play with blocks, paint a picture or even play make-believe.During play, children try new things, solve problems, invent, create, test ideas, and explore. The simplest way a child could benefit is to play make believe. By providing children with toys like dolls, kitchenware, dollhouses, etc.
, they could recreate scenarios they experience at home or wherever else they spend most of their time. This enables them to expand their vocabulary and to practice the art of speaking. By playing with dolls, and creating scenarios for them, they enhance their creativity. These children are given the freedom to use their imagination which gives them the ability to express themselves.This is important because teachers could get a sense of what these children’s personalities and temperaments are like.
By observing these children during play time, teachers could gather information about how they interact with or without one another. This could serve as a great advantage, for the teacher would be more prepared to handle these children in classroom settings. The teacher would know what to present to them in a learning environment, so that they are motivated to participate and learn from the experience.Also, if there ever were to be an issue with conduct, or misbehavior, the teacher would know how to approach the child who is misbehaving.
This would save a lot of time in the classroom, where the children could be more productive, and open to learning. At their prime age, which is 0-6 years old, children are supposed to be given the freedom to explore. The curriculum should revolve around them flexibly. Play generates highly motivated children to enjoy an environment where the learning outcomes of a curriculum are more likely to be achieved.Progress can be made beyond the educational curriculum. Children are given the opportunity to observe and learn from each other, even though this is done unintentionally.
They become socially adept by participating in unstructured activites, such as make-belive or pretend. Interacting with other children is necessary to develop skills they will be needing in the future. As well as playing make-believe, there are other ways in which social interaction could benefit them developmentally. When children play hide and seek, or tag, they are constantly moving around.This refines their motor skills, particulary that of gross motor.
Their spatial intelligence is also being developed, for they get a better sense of their surroundings. Children start to map out the playground, and have the hiding spots stored in their memory according to which ones have or haven’t worked out for them. In terms of fine motor skills, activities such as drawing, painting, or even making bracelets could help strengthen their muscles and develop their eye to hand coordination.Another aspect of play that sets the foundation for learning is when children start adding and subtracting objects like “pretend” food, or when they “go to the market” and buy/sell products. Without even realizing it, they are practicing their math skills.
The children start counting numbers beyond ten. They also start subtracting, dividing, adding and maybe even multiplying. If this were to be taught in a structured classroom, children wouldn’t be enthusiastic enough to give their undivided attention.Through play however, these math skills are being used productively, and children are developing areas of their brain that are responsible for problem solving and cognition. Overall, play is responsible for a great deal of children’s development.
While structured curricula could provide the classroom with great learning environments, it cannot be compared to the benefits play brings to these children. While these children unintentionally develop different areas of their brains, through the process of play, this sets the foundation for learning. They are better prepared to sit in classrooms and mentally absorb all that’s being taught to them.
