What Is a Play-Based Preschool?

A play-based preschool supports early education that focuses on a child-led curriculum to encourage holistic growth through social-emotional learning. Children engage in activities that are of interest to them and foster curiosity, exploration, and social development. Teachers encourage children to interactively play using various materials such as water tables, home or kitchen areas, reading nooks, block stations, science centers, and more. Play-based programs facilitate socialization and cooperation among students as they form their own little community.

5 Elements of Play-Based Learning 

• Self-chosen activities
  When children are allowed to navigate and choose an activity, they experience freedom to practice decision making and understand the connection between choice and consequence. The types of toys and materials that are available for children to play with are essential. Objects such as blocks, tubes, foam, and other open ended materials can be magically transformed into a fire truck, an airplane, or a train through a child’s imagination. Play-based learning inspires children to be creative and use their minds to explore endless possibilities. 
• Play is enjoyable
  Play fosters an emotional response. When the emotional connection is lacking, play becomes just another ordinary experience. Enjoyment equals engagement which, in turn, creates a rich experience for the child.  
• Unstructured play and discovery
  When children are not directed to a specific activity or structured lesson, it creates a space that enables the child to explore and discover their own interests. Similar to life, sometimes things do not always work out or go as planned. The absence of structure teaches children to be flexible in their thinking and decision making, which are crucial life skills.  
• In the moment play
  A play-based setting allows a child to become absorbed in their surroundings, losing track of time. In this risk-free space children feel secure and safe enough to experiment, try new ideas, and investigate. They are provided with a multitude of bandwidth to learn and cognitively grow. 
• Make-believe and imagination activities
  Play-based curriculum encourages the learning process to unfold naturally versus following the structure of a traditional learning setting. Children are born with a genuine motivation to play that allows them to regulate their own feelings and inclinations in order to continue playing with peers. This environment fosters self-control, which is another important and vital life skill.  

The Advantages of Play-Based Learning 

When children are integrated in a play-based approach to learning, they benefit in various ways.  

• Communication
  Children expand their communication skills with other children through interaction, discovery and exploration. Individual free play has also been found to cultivate communication skills as children often talk to themselves and speak to the toys with which they are engaging. This behavior helps them develop both sides of the narrative while building their language skill set.  
• Social and Emotional Development
  When playing with peers, children form their own little community which teaches them cooperation, conflict resolution, and effective communication. Children are also able to release stress through a play-based approach to learning.  
• Creativity and Imagination
  Through various play centers and real life scenarios, children nurture creativity and imagination. They are drawn to specific interests where they can role play, explore, discover, inquire, and navigate experiences on their own terms.  
• Motor Skills
  When kids play, they develop the essential motor skills necessary to grow into healthy humans. Running, jumping, and throwing a ball help children develop gross motor skills. Arts and crafts, coloring, and painting promote fine motor skills development. Climbing, skipping, and walking on a balance beam help children strengthen balance and coordination. 
• Critical thinking and problem solving
  When children discover and explore through play, they inevitably develop critical thinking and problem solving skills. They notice cause and effect, patterns, simple and complex consequences, and make connections when they are free to explore their world as it is.