Understanding Learning Through Play

Play is essential for all children, especially those of nursery school age. It serves as a strong foundation for development and growth allowing children to explore their curiosity and the world around them. From birth to age five, a child's brain develops more than any other time in life. Early brain development impacts a child's ability to learn. 

Learning through play is a powerful approach that nurtures all aspects of a child's development. At Busy Bees, we are committed to creating playful, enriching environments where every child can thrive. This blog post will discuss the importance of learning through play and how it can be incorporated into a child’s day. 

What Is Learning Through Play? 

Learning through play is an early year's educational approach that uses play as the primary method for teaching. This idea is the belief that children learn best when they are actively engaged and enjoying themselves. Key elements include: 

• Child-Centred Activities: Allowing children to take the lead in their play fosters independence and decision-making skills. 
• Open-Ended Materials: Providing resources that can be used in multiple ways encourages creativity and problem-solving. 
• Supportive Environment: Educators observe and interact with children, offering guidance and introducing new vocabulary or concepts as opportunities arise. 

This approach aligns with findings that playful learning experiences are directly linked to improving vocabulary and understanding simple mathematical concepts such as numbers, counting, and shapes. 

At Busy Bees children learn through play during their own freely chosen activities and through planned experiences offered by their playful teachers.

Why Is Play Important?      

Play is more than just fun; it supports children’s development in almost every aspect. It creates an opportunity to learn about themselves and the world around. 

Here are some of the reasons why play is important in child development: 

• Developing Social Skills: Interacting with other children during play helps children learn cooperation, sharing, and empathy. 
• Enhance Cognitive Abilities: Play encourages problem-solving, critical thinking, and creativity. 
• Build Physical Coordination: Active play promotes motor skills and overall physical health. 
• Expressing Emotions: Play provides a safe space for children to explore and express their feelings. 

What Are Some Examples of Learning Through Play? 

There are many ways to create learning opportunities during playtime. Here is a selection of play-based activities and how they can create a love of learning: 

• Music and Movement: Singing songs and dancing help develop rhythm, coordination, and listening skills. 
• Storytelling Sessions: Sharing stories supports many areas of learning, including developing vocabulary.
• Role play: Spaces that reflect real-world scenarios, such as a mini food shop or a doctor's surgery, allow children to role-play and learn about various professions and daily tasks. 
• Science Experiments: Simple, hands-on experiments introduce basic scientific concepts and foster curiosity. 
• Outdoor Exploration: Nature walks and outdoor activities encourage curiosity and teach children about the environment around them. 

These activities not only support children’s development but also make learning a joyful experience. By thoughtfully designing playtime activities, parents or educators can create opportunities for children to explore new ideas and concepts. 

How Have Busy Bees Incorporated Play into the Bee Curious Curriculum? 

At Busy Bees, our Bee Curious curriculum has been crafted to integrate play into every aspect of learning. We have incorporated the specific areas of development focusing on different aspects, such as communication and language, physical development, and understanding the world. Each area has been constructed to engage children through playful activities that promote growth and spark curiosity.  

Through playful teaching, Bee Curious supports children by providing age-appropriate, play-based learning experiences that evolve as they grow. By embedding play into our curriculum, Busy Bees ensures that children not only acquire essential skills but also foster a genuine love for learning. 

 Learning through play is a powerful approach that nurtures all aspects of a child's development. At Busy Bees, we are committed to creating playful, enriching environments where every child can thrive.  

To find out more about our approach to learning through play, discover the Bee Curious Curriculum.