Play-Based Learning Activities For Children- Why Is It Important?

Play-based learning activities are a method of teaching that focuses on fun games to promote children's cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development. This method enables children to engage in activities based on their unique interests. Here, the educators align their teaching style with the type of play children engage in.

These play-based learning environments enhance children's imagination and curiosity and encourage them to explore and discover many new things. They can either be conducted indoors or outdoors, physical or cognitive.

The play-based activities include tag games, pretend play, board games, paper crafts, hopscotch, singing nursery rhymes, etc. Every single game allows kids to learn new skills and concepts. They experiment with new things, take risks, and solve problems as they play.

This way, they develop a deeper understanding of the world and can prepare themselves for further school and life. Hence, these play-based activities are crucial for your children's life.

In this blog, we will provide more information about the importance of play-based learning methods. So, keep reading.

Importance of play-based learning methods

Playing is undoubtedly one of the best ways for your children's learning and development process. Let's know the importance of play-based learning methods in your children's lives.

• Develops language and literacy

Play helps create a joyful environment, promoting children's literacy and language development. Since in play-based learning, conversations occur naturally, a child's vocabulary can develop significantly during preschool.

Individual play encourages language and communication, as they might narrate the toys they are playing with. On the other hand, when playing in groups, kids are involved in different types of communication, like storytelling, negotiation, and goal sharing. So, their play school or daycare facilities can develop their conversation by engaging them in various games.

• Boosts social and emotional skills

Through play-based learning, children can develop their social and emotional skills, for example, maintaining positive relationships with friends. Because many kids play together, they get the opportunity to communicate effectively, problem-solve, and resolve conflicts. These are crucial for later in life.

It also develops emotional skills as they learn about empathy, recognizing and controlling their emotions. Many psychologists encourage play as a stress relief for children.

• Increases Creativity and imagination

You might think creativity and imagination are the natural capabilities of children. However, these skills can also be learned and developed. While playing, children come up with many imagined scenarios, like a stick can be a sword or a spoon.

No matter what they pretend to be, a doctor or teacher, they are solving many issues creatively. This allows them to be very creative and also develops their problem-solving skills.

• Builds Confidence

Play-based learning can also effectively build confidence. This increases the child's interest to try new things and take risks. Hence, they will only rely a little on adults to instruct them as they are confident they can solve new problems. If they can learn independently, they can also develop a positive attitude toward learning.

• Motor Skills

One major importance of play-based learning is developing children's gross and fine motor skills. Many games involve throwing, climbing, running, jumping, etc., help develop gross motor skills. Other play activities, like drawing, painting, building, role-playing, etc., help build their fine motor skills.

Conclusion

Written above were some of the importance of play-based learning activities. When children play, they also learn a lot. It helps them develop new skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, and Creativity.

Children will also be able to practice social skills like cooperation and collaboration. This way, they can develop many important life skills to help them succeed in school and their careers.

Learningville Steam Academy is a drop-in care service for kids where we offer various play-based activities that will stimulate the growth and development of your children. So, if you also want to engage your child in various activities, consider enrolling them in our drop-in care facility now.