Play Based Learning

What is Play Based Learning?

Play is an important part of children’s learning and development. At La Casa Preschool, we believe that children learn through guided play, exploration, experimentation, discovery, and problem solving.

BENEFITS OF PLAY BASED LEARNING IN PRESCHOOL
PLAY is fundamental to a child’s learning. Our play-based program at La Casa Preschool allows our students to explore concepts and see the world in a way that is meaningful to them. Developmentally appropriate materials and challenges set forth in a play based manner effectively give the child the ability to succeed and fail and to accept both outcomes: success with confidence and pride as well as failure without distress or frustration or judgment.La Casa Preschool’s play based approach involves both child-initiated and teacher-supported learning. Our teachers engage students’ learning though projects, experiments, art, story, and music to expand their thinking to new and higher levels. While our students are playing with sand in our sensory tables, for instance, our teacher may ask students questions relating to problem solving and prediction. “What container holds the most sand?” or “What happens to the sand when put into a funnel?”Our classrooms also are organized in a way to facilitate play based learning. Each classroom is broken up into “centers” or sections, such as a home or kitchen, science, sensory tables, reading nook, space with blocks and other toys, and traditional classroom tables for writing and art. Regularly, children are able to play within select centers set up for the day’s lesson and curriculum.
COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT PLAY BASED LEARNING

You may have once thought….all they do is play? Or heard that statement expressed by others when questioning the validity of that very important component in a child’s education. May I take the opportunity to dispel that misconception!

Through play, children increase their language skills and vocabulary. Through play, imagination and creative thinking skills emerge and begin to demonstrate themselves in their art and role play activities. Through play, a child manipulates objects and materials to discover their use, function, potential and tap into critical thinking processes. If “it” is in their hands, “it” is in their mind. Through play children learn negotiation skills, and conversely, conflict resolution skills, team building, time management. Our students learn reading and math fundamentals, science and history to prepare for kindergarten through this approach.

A 2018 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Report argues that most powerful way children learn isn’t only in classrooms or libraries but rather on playgrounds and in playrooms. In fact, a new AAP report states, “The importance of playful learning for children cannot be overemphasized.”

Scroll to Top