How play supports learning and development
But all they are doing is playing? How does play support their development?
One of the most important ways for children to learn and develop is through play. During play children build their capacity and abilities through exploration, learning how to make decisions and using their imagination. Play is an enjoyable starting point for their ‘learning journey’ which purposefully evolves from infancy to adolescence, it is also referred to as ‘children’s work’.
What are they learning and developing within play?
Cognitive Development: Thinking skills, memory recall, sustained attention and focus, creativity, recognition of shapes, letters and colours, perseverance, imagination, resilience, problem solving skills.
Literacy & Numeracy: Verbal and receptive language skills, prewriting skills, word formation and meaning, understanding written text and its structure and purpose, symbols purposes and systems.
Social & Emotional Development: Practicing how to negotiate thoughts and ideas with others, agency, decision making, imagination and creativity, self-esteem and confidence, self-regulation and adaption, empathy, fairness, co-existing with peers.
Physical: Gross and fine motor skills, coordination, self-help skills, health and wellbeing, motor planning, independence, balance.
Why do we use play-based learning in Early Intervention sessions?
Evidence shows that children learn best through hands-on learning experiences and repetition. In our early intervention sessions, we incorporate play-based learning with intentional learning outcomes to support children’s development and individual goals. Play is fun, interactive, and comfortable for children to engage in, learn from and further develop their skills. As an example, you may think “why do they use playdough at the start of Early Intervention sessions?”. Playdough is an amazing learning tool that supports children’s holistic development and provides sensory input:
It strengthens the intrinsic muscles within their fingers to support control and manipulation, which then helps them develop pencil grasps, using a spoon or fork, or serving themselves with tongs at Preschool for morning tea.
Playdough supports coordination and motor planning, as well as gross motor coordination and development within their upper body.
Children use creativity to create and manipulate, and they can use their language to communicate their thought process behind what they are creating.
Children can learn concepts of sizing such as small, big, on top…the list is endless with playdough!
How will you cater for my child?
In each session we support the developmental goals of each individual child with a combination of play-based, semi-structured learning styles and sensory input. We believe that building meaningful connections with our kiddos through positive interactions is our main priority. By providing children with a safe, consistent, and fun learning environment, we hope to establish a meaningful and reciprocal relationship. We highly value our working relationships with families and believe that providing a support network for both the kiddos and their parents or carers is paramount to help children work towards their goals. We work alongside other professionals, including the child’s speech therapist, OT, Preschool teacher, or any other health professional supporting your journey, and build a wrap-around approach to therapy and care.
References: Starting Blocks website https://www.startingblocks.gov.au/
Written by Jade Organ – Early Intervention Teacher (2021)