What are some of your favorite childhood memories? For many people, they are memories of play—climbing the tree in the backyard, caring for a doll or playing with a dollhouse, creating a farm with plastic animals or racing toy cars and trucks. All are examples of play experiences that help children develop important life skills necessary for future success.
In our age of accountability, many adults look for evidence of learning in test results, completed worksheets or even a child’s ability to sit still and concentrate. Children under the age of 6, however, learn in ways not measurable by these benchmarks. Young children must use all of their senses to touch, taste, smell, hear and see their world and manipulate it with their own hands in order to learn. In other words, they must experience the world in order to learn about it.
Play is education
Through play, children practice real life. Play, especially unstructured outdoor play, helps children develop the ability to focus, plan, make decisions, develop a positive self-concept, take risks, develop social interactions, organize and develop empathy. When two children play with blocks, for example, building a block tower or city helps them to learn about sorting sizes, geometry, negotiation, compromise, and to recognize their ability to be challenged. As adults, we call this “executive functioning.” Children call it “fun.”
Caregivers have the opportunity to provide guidance during play, to help children make appropriate choices as they develop and fine-tune skills. When children throw blocks, for example, a caregiver can explain the negative effect of another child being hit by a block. They can also direct children to items they can throw safely. In this way, a caregiver is meeting a child’s need and helping them to learn in that moment of play.
In most instances, a child’s behavior is a form of communication. Children use certain behaviors to let a caregiver know whether or not their social and emotional needs are being met. A child who bites, for example, may be expressing frustration at the lack of equipment or toys or the need for additional adult/child interaction. When behavior challenges occur, a caregiver should listen and look carefully to determine what message the child is trying to convey.
A child’s work is play and a child’s play is work. It is important to encourage play—both indoors and outdoors—as children are learning every moment of the day.
Parents and child care professionals can learn more about how to provide stimulating learning environments for young children by contacting 4C Northern Kentucky at 859-781-3511. 4C also assists families in finding and choosing quality child care and provides professional development opportunities, quality improvement consultations and assistance with regulations to those who care for young children in centers or family child care homes. Call 859-781-3511 or visit www.4CforChildren.org.
4C is a lead partner of “Learning Through Play,” an event presented by the Duke Energy Children’s Museum on March 28. For more...
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