What are play-based approaches?

A play based approach in early childhood education encourages children's holistic development through their own curiosity. Using their bodies and minds, children learn through hands-on investigation. The learning environment is tailored to each child and is directed or supported by a teacher.

What is play approaches?

The play approach is defined as a process for learning that is intrinsically motivated, enjoyable, freely chosen, nonliteral, safe, and actively engaged in by young learners. Making choices, assuming responsibility for one's decisions and actions, and having fun are inherent components of the play approach to learning.

How do you plan a play based approach to learning?

What is play based theory?

Play theory generally refers to cognitive development in younger children. Building off of Vygotsky's theory of cognition, Play Theory hypothesizes that play is an important component of both language development and understanding the external world as children play, and role play, situations to find solutions.

What is the role of the teacher in a play based approach?

The role of teachers and other adults in the room/environment is to enable and scaffold playful experiences and learning – this requires thoughtful planning (for example, setting out materials to pique children's curiosity) and spontaneous interactions building on natural curiosities and ideas (for example, following ...

What is Play-Based Learning?

What does a play based approach to learning look like?

A play based approach in early childhood education encourages children's holistic development through their own curiosity. Using their bodies and minds, children learn through hands-on investigation. The learning environment is tailored to each child and is directed or supported by a teacher.

What does play-based learning look like?

In a preschool classroom, play-based learning can take various forms. For instance, it could involve setting up hands-on sensory activities, such as a water table or a sandpit, where children can experiment and discover new textures and properties.

What is a play based approach in early childhood?

Effective play-based learning takes place when children are given space, time and autonomy to engage in activities and interact with resources that are meaningful and interesting to them. This may involve children playing with other children, with adults or alone.

What are the disadvantages of play based approach?

One of the main disadvantages of play based learning is the lack of structure. It is often child-led, which means that children are free to explore and play. It may sometimes make it difficult to track progress and prepare children for future education.

What is the problem of play-based learning?

Challenges of Play-Based Learning

Research shows that there are also structural challenges with play-based learning. These studies reflect that educators fail to engage all children equally during play due to time restraint or class size. Furthermore, play-based learning cannot reach all types of children.

What is a key feature of a play based approach?

Elements of play-based learning

Enjoyable: Play is enjoyable for the child. This emotional aspect is important. There may be some frustrations or disagreements during play but overall it's pleasurable. Unstructured: A child has ample time to explore and discover during play.

How do you engage children in play-based learning?

Is play-based learning a strategy?

Learning through play has emerged as an important strategy to promote student engagement, inclusion, and holistic skills development beyond the preschool years.

Why is play based so important?

Play-based learning is relatively common in preschool settings and has been linked to the development of 21st century learning skills—including collaboration, communication, content, critical thinking, creative innovation, and confidence¹—as well as social and emotional development,² language development,³ and math ...

How do you create a play-based learning environment?

Materials that encourage inquiry and exploration are ideal. Examples include water and sand tables with containers, experimenting and tinkering centers, or open-ended art materials. Talk with families about how they can engage with their child in open-ended play.

What does approaches to play and learning mean?

Approaches to learning is about how children learn in different ways and focuses on the development of positive attitudes towards learning: • Curiosity, engagement and persistence; • Creativity and imagination; • Diversity in learning. Rationale. • Children's learning is connected to their feelings.

What theories support play-based learning?

Piaget's theory of cognitive development suggests that early years children learn most effectively when exploring the world around them and making use of all of their senses. This supported the popularity of discovery learning and sensory play.

What is an example of learning through play?

Play is what pulls together the logical and creative parts of the brain. For young children, play is often a full body activity that helps them develop skills they will need later in life. Running, dancing, climbing, rolling—these activities all foster muscle development and help fine-tune motor skills.

What are the benefits of play based assessment?

One way educators can facilitate effective assessments is by employing a play-based approach. By incorporating play into the assessment process, educators can observe children in natural and authentic contexts, allowing for a more accurate assessment of their abilities.

Is Montessori a play-based approach?

She recognized that play is a natural and effective way for children to learn. In a Montessori preschool program, play-based learning is integrated into the curriculum. Children are encouraged to explore, experiment, and discover the world around them through hands-on activities.

What is the difference between play-based and Montessori approach?

Materials: Montessori kids work with lots of concrete materials, especially manipulatives, which are self-correcting and have a solution. While play-based preschools have lots of materials, these tend to be more open-ended, such as blocks or arts and crafts materials.

Is Montessori play-based?

Lillard (2013) asserts Montessori thought work is play, and play is work, unless children play pretending or engage in fantasy play (Lillard & Taggart, 2018). According to Lillard (2020), when children engage in play-based learning, they “play with hands-on materials in order to learn academic content.

What curriculum is play based?

In a play-based or child-centered preschool program, children are able to choose activities based on the current interests. Learning activities such as creative arts, literacy, numeracy, social studies, science, etc. are presented to children through play.

How do you promote play-based learning?

How can parents support play-based learning?

Here are some things you can do to: • Let your child know that you are there when she needs you. Guide your child to find the solution to the situation by providing her with options. Support your child's learning by playing with her when she is learning a new skill and/or practicing skills she already has.