Play-based learning is an excellent way for young children to develop the skills they’ll need later on in life. Children’s brain development is positively affected by peer interactions, making the play-based learning method incredibly effective. As the brain grows, the right side, which is responsible for imagination and creativity, develops significantly faster than the left. It’s no wonder that children thrive when they can use their creativity to learn and grow. So how does play-based learning benefits children? Let’s take a look and see.
It’s In Their Nature
Children are naturally motivated to play. You never have to teach a child to use their imaginations and creativity; it happens naturally from a very young age. By design, a child explores their surroundings with an innate curiosity, which helps them learn and discover the world around them.
Supports Positivity Toward Learning
When children correlate learning with fun, they’re more likely to enjoy it as they grow older. Allowing them to develop a love of learning through play, sets them on the road to success. Children learn persistence and curiosity as they play, which they bring into other areas of their lives, including the classroom.
Develop Social, Emotional, And Cognitive Skills
Social skills are an invaluable resource, so giving your child the chance to develop them at a young age helps them adapt as they grow up. There’s nothing quite like watching two toddlers try to communicate with each other as they play with their toy kitchen or when one has a book and the other tries to take it from them. Children must learn how to socialize effectively so their peers can understand them.
Emotions are difficult for young children to process, which is why they’re prone to throwing tantrums. Play-based learning teaches children how to cope with and process their feelings. For example, when their friend has a toy, and they have to wait their turn, they learn to process their emotions at the moment.
Cognitive skills like problem-solving and decision-making come into play with toys like Shape-O Toy. Children must learn to use their cognitive skills in real-time, figuring out which shape matches each opening, enabling their brains to grow and develop quickly.
Develop Executive Functions
Executive functions are self-awareness, self-control, and planning. Due to their developing brains, children naturally struggle with these concepts until they are older. Children act out these functions when they play games like peek-a-boo, teaching them the concepts better than any classroom could.
Physical Development
The more children move, the better their bones and muscles develop. Play-based learning is an excellent way for children to stay healthy while having fun. If you watch a group of toddlers play together, they’re always running around, crawling, and climbing. This activity leads to strong bodies, which promotes strong minds.
There’s no doubt that there are many benefits to play-based learning in young children. When they are allowed to use their imaginations and creativity to learn, the process is easier and much more fun. Your child can develop a love of learning at a young age through play-based learning.
