Incorporating play in early learning
Children learn best through play. Connections are made in the brain every time your child sees, hears, feels, or experiences something new. Repetitive actions or activities make these connections stronger. The more play your child is engaged in, the more connections that are made and the more they learn.
Play develops the following areas:
- Emotional and Social — expression of emotions, interacting with
others - Health and Physical — fine and gross motor skills, self-care, safety
awareness, physical health, and growth - Cognitive — mathematical and scientific thinking, problem-solving
skills, logical connections, and creative expression - Language and Communication — verbal and non-verbal skills, language to describe events, thoughts, and feelings; using language as a tool to communicate needs and interact with others
You can provide activities and fun ways to enhance learning in each of these areas at every age, beginning at birth. Remember:
- There are three primary age ranges to consider: infants, toddlers, and preschoolers
- To have fun
- You are your child’s favorite playmate
- Children learn the most while playing
- To create comfortable and inviting play spaces
In the following paragraphs, we will outline a few activities that touch on each age. Expand on these ideas and adapt them to your child’s age, interests and abilities. Additional “playing to learn” information and activities are available free at the Martin-Pitt Partnership for Children’s Resource Room and Lending Library.
PLAYING TO LEARN — BABIES
Babies are born able to learn. Here are some ideas for stimulating your baby’s learning:
Stroke your baby using objects with different textures such as a cotton ball, a silky blanket, a piece of velvet or a flannel shirt. Softly hum or talk to your baby about the different textures.
- Emotional and Social — fosters bonding, trust, secure attachment, sensory activities help to develop emotions
- Health and Physical — develops the senses
Start a conversation with your baby. You can talk about what you are having for dinner, about members of the family or anything else. As your baby responds with “coos” and other sounds, copy these sounds and include them in your conversation.
- Emotional and Social — learning how to interact, learning about emotions
- Health and Physical — learning use of mouth and vocal cords
- Cognitive — understanding words
- Language and Communication — teaches communication
Play “peek-a-boo” by covering a toy with a blanket.
- Emotional and Social — learning about surprise and anticipation fosters bonding and interaction
- Health and Physical — when baby uncovers the item
- Cognitive — problem solving
- Language and Communication — promotes conversation
Tuck a pillow under your baby’s chest to make it easier to hold their head up and look around. Arrange interesting toys in front of them. Place a mirror in front of them so they can watch themselves. While they are propped up, they can use their hands to explore and touch. Talk to them about all the things they see.
- Emotional and Social — learning own expressions and sense of self
- Health and Physical — develops gross motor skills of neck
- Cognitive — problem solving and thinking
- Language and Communication — learn about objects, promotes conversation
PLAYING TO LEARN — TODDLERS
Toddlers are very curious about their environment and like to explore everything. Here are some ways to encourage your toddler’s curiosity:
Use paper or plastic cups and show your toddler how to put them together and take them apart. After your child gets the hang of it, add other cups of different shapes or sizes.
- Health and Physical — fine and gross motor skills, hand-eye coordination
- Cognitive — problem solving
Show your toddler how to build a three-block tower, counting the blocks as you go. Knock the tower down and ask your toddler to help you rebuild it. Let them knock it down this time.
- Health and Physical — fine and gross motor skills, hand-eye coordination
- Cognitive — problem solving
- Language and Communication — following directions, promotes conversation
Let your toddler play in the bathtub to learn how to pour and squeeze. Pour water through a slotted spoon or colander and show your toddler how to make rain.
- Health and Physical — develops the senses
- Cognitive — problem solving
- Language and Communication — promotes conversation
Use a doll or stuffed animal to identify different parts of the body; i.e., head, toes, arms, etc. Suggest to your toddler to brush its hair, wash its face, or to dress it in clothes.
- Health and Physical — develops fine motor skills, learn how to help self by dressing, washing, and brushing
- Emotional and Social — listening to directions
- Language and Communication — promotes conversation
PLAYING TO LEARN — PRESCHOOLERS
Preschoolers build on and master skills learned as babies and toddlers. Here are some ways to continue building your child’s skills:
Let your child use play dough to makes shapes, cut and roll. Make sure your child helps you clean up afterward.
- Health and Physical — cleaning up after oneself
- Cognitive — problem solving
Play listening and guessing games. Describe an object in the room and have your child try to guess what it is.
- Emotional and Social — interactions with others
- Cognitive — problem solving
- Language and Communication — understanding descriptive words
Take your child on walks and help her read signs and identify plants, animals, and landmarks.
- Emotional and Social — interaction with others
- Health and Physical — gross motor skills developed by walking
- Cognitive — thinking skills
- Language and Communication — understanding descriptive words
Help your child cut pictures from magazines and paste them into a book. Have your child think of a story to accompany the pictures while you write it in the book you’ve created together.
- Emotional and Social — interaction with others. If photos include facial expressions children learn about emotions
- Health and Physical — fine motor skills developed while cutting
- Cognitive — thinking skills, problem-solving
- Language and Communication — promotes conversation