The Power of Play-Based Learning in Preschool

1. The Power of Play-Based Learning in Preschool When it comes to their children, Indian parents do not leave any stone unturned. According to a report by the World Economic Forum, Indian parents spend the most time helping their children with homework. All over India, 95% of parents help their children with their studies. This shows how most Indian parents bury their heads in textbooks to work on the endless projects given by the school to their kids, instead of the kid learning through new projects. Choosing a preschool or a children’s play centre where rote learning or memorising is encouraged to get good grades or to get into good primary is perhaps not the best idea. This will just lead to preschoolers with poor learning skills. So how exactly should you encourage healthy learning patterns in children? Play-based learning is the answer! Play means an enjoyable activity for children, with no end goal. In simple terms, play-based learning means children learning through playing like hiding, building, searching, games etc. Given the importance of play, the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights, also recognizes play as a right of every child.

2. Little Wings, one of the best play schools and preschools in South Bopal, emphasises play-based learning to lay the foundation for a child’s holistic growth & development. Communication skills While playing, children talk and listen to others, which polishes their communication skills and enhances their vocabulary. In these early years of education, when teachers in children’s play centres encourage conversation in a natural way, it can be especially effective as young children receive information and connect it with what they already know or with what they have just learned. Even singing or playing word games with their classmates can help the preschoolers increase their vocabulary and become more confident Sometimes children play alone and talk with their toys or narrate an imaginary story while playing. “Hey my train is about to leave the station, cho-cho,” or something to that effect is what you might have overheard your child say. When they enact these multiple sides of the conversation, it encourages communication growth. Motor skills Young children have more than 600 muscles in their body and they actively use these muscles while climbing, running, playing ball games, jumping, throwing and dancing. Play based learning helps children enhance their hand-eye coordination, control over their muscles and helps them become more flexible.

3. On the one hand, activities like running, skipping, jumping, help children develop strong gross motor skills, activities like colouring and painting help them develop fine motor skills. When you see your child playing on a slide in the preschool or hopping on a monkey bar, it may seem like they are just enjoying themselves. However, their little body is doing a lot of work and strengthening their muscles. It makes children physically active from a very early stage. Emotional skills Preschoolers are little children with big emotions. And they don’t always have words to describe what they are feeling. Hence, play allows them to explore their emotional side and express themselves better. It also helps them in managing their emotions. For instance, imagine playing a game with a child and he/she wins. Have you seen the happiness on their faces? Similarly, if he/she loses, the child has to learn to process sadness and anger. They might even cry or yell because they do not understand why they can’t have what they want. All of this because while playing children are exposed to several emotional aspects. Social skills Every parent desires to raise a socially intelligent child. A child who gets along with those in society and perhaps even becomes a leader. Playing with children their own age and even slightly older and younger, helps children to develop such social skills at a tender age. Some of the best play schools and preschools in South Bopal motivate children through play-based activities to interact with their peers. They teach children to share their food with other children, empathise with others, the importance of self-discipline and the importance of respecting others. A good preschool can help parents lay the foundation for a child’s social growth. Cognitive skills According to the American Academy of Paediatrics Journal play based-learning isn’t just for fun. It helps in the functioning of the brain of a child and promotes executive function like the process of learning. When children play with their friends or even alone, they develop their cognitive skills like thinking, remembering, learning and paying attention. Their concepts of shapes, colours, letters, etc, get more clear if they learn while having fun. It also helps them with their problem solving skills. For example, if they are building a Lego castle and it falls. That right there is a problem. To solve this problem, they now will have to build a tower with a stronger base that doesn’t fall.

4. Creativity & Imagination Is it a bird? Or is it a plane? When children are playing, there’s no end to their vivid imagination and creativity. Though it seems like it comes naturally, creativity is something that can be developed. How? Through engaging in activities such as dress- ups, puppet play, nature walks, etc. Play based activities like solving puzzles or building a sand castle in preschools and play schools gives a boost to the creativity of the children. Age appropriate toys like building blocks, kitchen utensils, dolls, art and craft dough, action figures, or even an empty box, are somethings that enable children to think through and strengthen their imagination. So the next time you hear someone saying, “how is my child learning if they’re just playing all day in their preschool?”. Tell them these benefits. Or even better! Call 9574026999 Or drop an email hr@littlewings.net to plan a visit to Little Wings Holistic Childhood Centre, the best play school and pre school in Bopal, South Bopal and Shela, where our experienced educators harness the power of playfulness and encourage students to become explorers by building a fun and effective learning environment. Content source