In the rush to prepare children for school, many parents feel pressure to focus on early academics, introducing flashcards and structured learning as soon as possible. While early literacy and numeracy are important, research consistently shows that play-based learning offers the best foundation for a child’s long-term educational success and emotional wellbeing.
Play is how children naturally explore, understand, and engage with the world around them. It supports problem-solving, creativity, language development, and social skills in a way that feels enjoyable and meaningful to them. Choosing an early years setting that embraces play as a key learning tool can give your child the strongest possible start in life. For example, settings like Knightsbridge Kindergarten embrace a play-based approach within a nurturing environment, helping children to develop confidence and a love of learning at their own pace.
What Is Play-Based Learning?
Play-based learning involves using carefully planned activities and free exploration to encourage curiosity, discovery, and experimentation. It can include role play, building with blocks, painting, outdoor exploration, storytelling, and singing. These activities promote cognitive and physical development while supporting emotional regulation and social skills such as turn-taking, negotiation, and empathy.
Unlike rigid, adult-led teaching, play-based learning allows children to make choices and take the lead, developing independence, critical thinking, and a sense of ownership over their learning.
The Benefits of Play-Based Learning
1. Supports Cognitive Development
Through play, children learn to think critically, solve problems, and develop memory and concentration. Activities like puzzles, building structures, and sorting objects help children understand concepts such as size, shape, and patterns, which lay the groundwork for mathematical thinking.
2. Develops Language Skills
Role play and storytelling allow children to practise new vocabulary and sentence structures in a natural, engaging way. They learn to express their ideas, listen to others, and engage in conversation, all of which are crucial for school readiness.
3. Builds Social Skills
Play-based environments encourage cooperation, turn-taking, and sharing. Children learn to navigate friendships, resolve conflicts, and develop empathy, which are essential for forming positive relationships throughout their lives.
4. Encourages Creativity
Creative play, such as painting, music, and imaginative role play, allows children to express themselves and develop their unique ideas. It also helps to build resilience, as children learn that there are many ways to approach a problem or activity.
5. Supports Emotional Wellbeing
Play is an outlet for children to process their feelings and experiences, helping them to develop emotional regulation and confidence. It provides a safe space for them to express themselves and explore new situations without pressure.
How Parents Can Support Play-Based Learning at Home
While many nurseries embrace a play-based approach, parents can continue to support this style of learning at home:
Allow unstructured play time:
Let your child choose activities without a set outcome or rigid structure, encouraging them to follow their interests.
Join in their play:
Follow your child’s lead in their games, offering language and ideas without taking control.
Provide a variety of materials:
Simple resources like blocks, art materials, role play costumes, and outdoor opportunities can inspire hours of play.
Ask open-ended questions:
Rather than giving instructions, ask, “What do you think will happen if…?” or “Can you show me how you made that?”
Value play as learning:
Remember that even when it looks like “just play”, your child is learning vital skills that will support them throughout their education.
Choosing a Nursery That Values Play
When selecting a nursery for your child, ask how they incorporate play into the daily routine. Look for settings that provide a mix of child-initiated and adult-supported play, with opportunities for both indoor and outdoor exploration. Observe how practitioners engage with the children, supporting their interests and encouraging deeper learning through questioning and scaffolding their play.
A nursery that understands and values play-based learning will create a nurturing, engaging environment where your child can develop the skills and confidence they need for school and beyond.
Final Thoughts
Play is the natural language of childhood, and through it, children build the foundations for lifelong learning and wellbeing. By choosing a nursery that embraces play-based learning and supporting this approach at home, you will help your child develop into a curious, confident, and capable learner.
Early years are not just about preparing for the next stage; they are a unique and precious period in their own right. By giving your child the space and freedom to learn through play, you are giving them a gift that will last a lifetime.