Play is fundamental to children’s learning, this is supported by the play based EYFS curriculum.
Most Early Years settings have fully adopted the play based learning style, enabling children to learn through experience and exploration, rather than being taught. However, there is still a great deal of controversy over the best way for children to learn.
Some parents have aired their concerns over the lack of ‘teaching’ that happens in Early Years settings. It has argued whether practitioners should be sitting children down and teaching them to read and write; however other opinions have stated that this is not beneficial to the children and that they are not ready for formal learning. At the age of 4 it has been shown that a child can concentrate for up to 8 minutes; however the child needs to be fully engaged and interested in managing this.
Cognitive development and social skills
Play enables children to build on their social skills and cognitive development while learning about the world around them. Theories on childhood development say that children often learn through observing others. However, children need to be given the space and opportunity to learn skills for themselves. Children who are in control of their learning can use the environment as a teacher. Investigation and exploration skills can be nurtured and allow the child to discover themselves and their environment through play.
Imaginative play
Learning through play also builds on a child’s imaginative skills, it can also help develop their thoughts and feelings. Children, who can take on a role during role-play or pretend an object is something else, are usually able to handle their emotions better. This may be due to giving children the opportunity to recreate past event or act out their thoughts without directly affecting reality. Allowing children the opportunity to engage in role play helps them to learn about right and wrong without consequences.
Schemas and Characteristics of Effective Learning
Schemas are repeated patterns of linked behaviour and can teach us how children learn. There are many types of schemas; a child may display one or more at any time. Observing schemas in play can help practitioners to build on the child’s play and scaffold their learning. Extending an activity using schemas, alongside the child’s interests can positively impact the child’s development. Children are unable to control their schema play and feel the urge to carry out an action over and over, for example dropping items from the dinner table onto the floor. Many parents are unaware of schemas and may feel that their child is misbehaving and not listening; however this is not the case. It is important to offer plenty of activities to promote schema play and fully support the child’s learning style. Alongside schemas, the EYFS supports the way in which children learn through the ‘Characteristics of Effective Learning.’ There are 3 characteristics involved; ‘Active learning’, ‘Playing and exploring’ and ‘Creating and thinking critically’; supporting children learning through play.
As you can see play is one of the main ways children learn, therefore this is why children should be exposed to this rather than being taught in a more formal way.
What are your thoughts on the benefits of children learning through play?