Play is a child’s way of communicating. Play is a natural way for them to learn about the world around them. Learning about the world around them and making sense of it via play is a vital part of the development of a child’s cognitive and social abilities in the early years. As educators, it’s our job to make the most of kids’ natural tendency toward play in order to help them learn.
Busy Bees emphasize play-based learning in their child care and early education programs.Busy Bees has multiple locations in Australia, where children learn best when they are actively engaged in the learning process itself, rather than just being spoon-fed information. Every child’s whole growth depends on their ability to play.
How Is Play-Based Learning Defined?
The Early Years Learning Framework defines play-based learning as “an environment for learning in which children organize and understand their social realities via active engagement with people, objects, and representations.” As a result of play-based learning, educators can provide children with opportunities to play on their own as well as to play with one another. It’s important for children to be excited about what they’re learning if they’re going to have a good attitude about it later on.
Ability to Communicate
It’s important for youngsters to play to learn important communication skills and language. When youngsters play with other children and adults, they learn to both communicate effectively and to listen attentively. Playing with a teacher can be especially beneficial to a child’s communication abilities during the early years of their development when their vocabulary is increasing fast.
A child’s ability to communicate grows even if they are playing alone and making up their own stories. While playing with their toys, youngsters often speak to themselves and the objects they’re playing with, engaging in active language scenarios.
Mechanic Skills
This type of play is also a great way to build strong motor skills in kids:
· Children that participate in activities such as jumping, running, and throwing develop strong gross motor abilities.
· Core strength and hand-eye coordination are required as well as a strong sense of balance when participating in sports, skipping, or climbing.
· Coloring, drawing, and crafts strengthen fine motor abilities and stimulate creativity in children.
· It may look like your child is having a good time with their pals on the monkey bars, but their body is actually working hard and gaining the crucial skills that will help them grow.
Behavioural and Emotional Change
To be expected, play-based learning helps youngsters develop healthy emotional and social skills. Learning to work as a team, communicate, and participate in activities with their peers is an important element of growing up. As a result, they are able to build relationships and develop a strong sense of emotional and social intelligence.
The teachers at the Busy Bees encourage children to work through typical emotions and circumstances, both negative and positive—which in turn increases their ability to engage and cope with the environment in which they find themselves. These children show empathy and responsibility when they play “family” and “doctor” in a way that is respectful of their peers.
