Learning through play for Preschool Kids
Introduction:
Preschool is an important stage in a child’s early developmental stage as it builds the formation of future success. During this period, children continuously explore the world around them and learn about everything including themselves. It is the period when kids are like little scientists, doctors and what not. How can we, as parents and teachers, make this stage of their lives filled with fun and educational activities? One of the best ways to assist children in their development is learning through play. In this blog, we will read what play based learning is, what are its benefits, and some cool preschool learning through play activities that are both educational and enjoyable.!
What is learning through play?
A word used in education and psychology to explain how a kid might learn to make sense of their environment is learning through play. Children can grow emotionally through play, improve their social and cognitive skills, and build the self-confidence they need to explore new situations and settings.
Playing, interacting with others, being active, learning new things, communicating with others, overcoming physical and mental problems, being shown how to do new things, practicing and repeating abilities, and having fun are all important learning methods for young children.
Why is learning through play important?
Children should learn through play since it helps in their overall growth and development. Children learn about their surroundings and how things operate while they play. They pick up important life skills like creativity, problem-solving, and communication. Kids enjoy playing because it gives them the freedom to try new things without fear of failing. Kids can utilize their imaginations and take risks in a safe environment. Children can learn new things and make significant environmental discoveries while playing. Preschool learning through play is a crucial component of children’s learning and development because of all these advantages.
Best learning through play activities for preschoolers:
Water Games
Water play helps kids to safely experiment with fundamental ideas like volume. Water play is an excellent way to teach kids about the effects of their activities. Water play becomes a strong favorite when some physical strength and hand-eye coordination are included.
Dress-Up and Play-Along
Let the kids’ imaginations go wild by providing them with a variety of play outfits and accessories, such as toy doctor’s kits. You’ll soon find the aspiring physician, veterinarian, nurse, astronaut, chef, or actor. Children that dress up are more likely to interact with others and start to understand the adult world, roles, and interests. Not to mention, dressing up supports self-care behaviors that are crucial for success in elementary school.
Painting and Drawing
Giving kids complete freedom with paints and sketching supplies enables them to express themselves, explore the world in a sensory sense, and develop pre-writing skills. Additionally, it’s a call to study color theory, mixing, and basic organization!
Jigsaws, blocks, and shape sorters
The roots of spatial thinking, logical reasoning, ordering, and recognizing different forms, sizes, and colors are all laid by playing with blocks, jigsaw puzzles, and shape sorters.
Sand play:
Sand play is one of the best ways to create the foundation for scientific learning as well as for building self-confidence and physical growth. Children learn how things function while developing their muscles and hand-eye coordination while scooping, digging, pouring, and sifting. When done with a small friend, it becomes about cooperation, sharing, and social skills.
Simple Board Games
Even the youngest players have access to a wide variety of board games, and these should be enjoyed for both their educational and enjoyable aspects. These activities are essential for teaching kids turn-taking and sharing in addition to the subjects of numbers, colors, shapes, and early phonics.
FAQs From Parents And Teachers
Q#1: Why is learning important for kids?
Learning is essential for kids. It helps in developing important skills and knowledge that will benefit them throughout their lives. Learning helps children in improving their cognitive skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities which are important for them at every stage of life.
Q#2: How can kids learn while playing?
Kids can learn while playing through a lot of fun activities such as
– Painting
– Drawing
– Online games
– Board games
Q#3: What are the cons of learning while playing?
Learning through play can be a fun and effective way for kids to learn, there are some potential cons to consider. For example, kids may become too focused on the fun of the game and lose sight of the educational objectives.
Q#4: What games can be played for learning?
Some games that can be plated for learning are
– jigsaw puzzle
– Hangman
– Bingo
– Thumbs up/Down
– Puzzles
– Pictionary
– I Spy
Conclusion:
Learning through play is an awesome combination of fun and education. By combining education and play, children can get a deeper understanding about their surroundings. Play based learning can teach children life-long lessons such as problem-solving skills, social and emotional development, communication and much more. As parents and teachers, we should play our part in encouraging play based learning as it will definitely leave a positive impact on a child’s growth and development. So parents and teachers. Add some whipped cream on the top of an exciting ice cream sundae by ditching traditional boring books and bringing on some silly games that will have your kids laughing and playing all day!
