What is Play-based Learning?
We all want our children to enjoy learning. They learn in different ways, but one method that can help them build key life skills—and have fun at the same time—is play-based learning. Actually, a child may be learning any time they play. They could play alone, with other children or with you, and always be discovering something new. However, play-based learning is a style of education that takes place in some preschools or kindergartens. It’s a style of teaching that purposely puts play first. That’s what we’re going to talk about here.
This form of early childhood education puts the child in the lead. There is no set goal for each activity. Play is its own reward. The American Academy of Pediatrics (APA) calls play a “fundamental part of children’s healthy development.”
Adults can provide inspiration, like interesting spaces to explore. They can supply toys or other objects that spark a child’s imagination. However, the child chooses what to do with these. They might interact with other children or spend time by themselves. Either way, they reap plenty of benefits, including social, emotional and cognitive skills.
Approaches to Early Learning
In a way, play-based learning has always existed. Children play naturally. (Even young animals of many species engage in play.) Any time kids use their imagination and figure out how to relate to their world, they learn. However, the “theory” of play-based learning has emerged over recent decades.
Going back a bit, the concept of kindergarten arose in Germany in the early 19th century. It historically focuses on the child as a complete person. It supports them in developing social, emotional, motor and cognitive skills. Teaching specific subjects is left for later. Some of the basic elements, like holding a pencil or following directions, underlie academic learning in elementary school.
Preschool dates back even further. It has ranged from informal groupings of siblings and neighbors in a private home to tried and tested formal curricula.
As we now understand, each step builds on the next. Preschool or pre-K education prepares children for kindergarten. This experience, especially early literacy, acts as a predictor of success by third grade. This milestone, in turn, predicts high school graduation, which sets the stage for a career or post-secondary education.
How Play-Based Learning Emerged (and Re-emerged)
Today, early education is about more than keeping children occupied while their parents work. Much research and testing goes into developing different systems of education. Preschools and kindergartens today strive to do things based on evidence.
Evidence based teaching methods run the gamut from structured to self-directed. You may have heard of Montessori learning, which leans fully into the self-directed style.
In recent years, academic success has received greater attention, particularly in the realm of standardized testing. As a result, some methods of early education have become more academic and moved away from self-directed learning. This is sometimes called “schoolification.” Fortunately for those who thrive in a more play-based environment, there is ample evidence of its benefits.
Key Principles of Play-Based Learning
There is no one universal definition of play-based learning, but we generally agree that it gives the child choices of activities. Following different learning traditions, play has either been used as a means of learning or as a rest break between learning activities. Play-based learning embraces the former. To the child, there is little difference.
In a 2008 journal article, researchers identified what they call the playing-learning child. “This is a child who does not separate between play and learning, and instead relates to the world around him or her in a playful manner.” Sounds nice, doesn’t it? Play-based learning lets children develop this playing-learning experience.
With play-based learning, the child chooses how they’ll play or “what” they’ll play, e.g., “let’s play house.” An adult might offer suggestions without direction. Besides being child-centered, there are several key principles of play-based learning.
The child should enjoy the activity overall. If they try certain activities and don’t enjoy them, that helps them get to know their own likes and dislikes.
There is no goal for child-centered learning. Instead, it should tap into intrinsic motivation. Intrinsic motivation is one of the APA’s 20 Principles for Early Childhood Education. It means doing something because you enjoy it, not because you get a reward.
Generally, they use their imagination. Playing pretend or “make believe” helps children build social, language and creative thinking skills.
Creating an Educational Play Environment
There are two important sides to creating a play-based or child-centered learning environment. The first is to support the experience. That can mean making children feel safe to explore without judgment or criticism. You can let them know that—while respecting others, of course—they are free to engage in different activities and try new things.
The other is the material side. You can supply physical objects that encourage play. This doesn’t mean spending a lot of money on fancy toys or costumes, however. In fact, the child can unleash their imagination with everyday objects. A chair could become their horse, an empty box a secret hideout, or an old coat a fireman’s uniform.
Nature and the outdoors also present rich inspiration for make believe. Let children (safely) pick up rocks, sticks or wildflowers and imagine what to do with them. Point out plants and wildlife. They might even imagine they’re in a far-away land or an enchanted forest.
Really, any environment can support play-based learning as long as there are plenty of things to delight the senses.
How Does Play-Based Learning Benefit Child Development?
In the U.S., states make their own decisions about education. In 2023, three states passed legislation supporting play-based learning. They made these decisions based on research. For example, studies show that play helps students master academic content and can help with executive function skills.
The Brookings Institution reports, “A growing body of evidence from the interdisciplinary science of learning points towards a more holistic approach to supporting students, teachers and communities in early childhood education and beyond.”
Some benefits of play-based learning include:
Social skills: Children can learn cooperation, empathy for others and sharing. Even playing alone, they can imagine other characters in the scene with them and how they want to treat those people or animals.
Cognitive development: The lack of specific goals opens opportunities for problem-solving, while kids also exercise their creativity.
Emotional growth: A child can get to know themselves better by learning what they like and what they’re capable of. This includes learning self-regulation and resilience when something doesn’t go as expected.
Physical development: Different activities provide the chance to exercise gross or fine motor skills, improving coordination and mastery of basic movements like jumping or skipping.
There are never-ending opportunities for social and cognitive development through play. Child development and play go hand in hand.
Types of Play in Play-Based Learning
Many different types of play can be woven into play-based learning. Above, we talked about the benefits of pretend play, such as exercising the imagination and learning empathy. Pretend play, or dramatic play might involve dressing up in costumes or using props. It can mean inhabiting roles, either from favorite stories or new ones that a child invents.
Physical play can build on the benefits of pretend play. But whether the child is just being themselves in the “real world” or a dinosaur stomping across the plain, they can move or stretch in whatever way their age and ability allows. They will build motor skills and possibly strength.
There is also constructive play, where a child builds or creates something. They might build with blocks, color and paint, or make a craft. However, to keep it child-directed, remember to let them decide what they make. No following the LEGO instruction book here!
Any of these activities can be done as free play or guided play. With guided play, an adult can offer ideas without telling them what to do. While free play is more flexible and voluntary, guided play can include rules or objectives. This is where definitions of play-based learning can blur. For example, when you play a game, it typically has rules and a goal. However, some would say this idea strays from truly child-led play-based learning. You can find compromises, such as letting a child invent a game of their own.
Common Examples of Play-Based Learning Activities
It may help to see some examples of play-based learning activities. The following are some play-based learning examples for preschool or kindergarten. Suggesting the activity does not mean the adult sets the parameters, however. The child can guide these educational play activities.
Dress up as a favorite character from a book or movie and act out a story. Other children or adults can take part. If the story changes course, that’s okay. The child will practice creativity, language skills and social interaction.
Offer the child materials for sensory play, such as sand, water or clay. They can choose how and what to do with these, improving fine motor skills and creativity.
Pursue an art project. Finger painting is a great example. It lets a child use their fine motor skills, make choices and learn about colors, express themselves and produce an end product they can be proud of.
Foster curiosity about the natural world by playing in sand, dirt or dry leaves. The child may choose to make something out of these or simply explore how they feel, smell and react to being handled. They might come across animals, such as worms or snails, which can help build empathy.
Dance to music, whether recorded or which the child makes themselves. Some simple musical instruments, even a bucket as a makeshift drum, can offer a starting point. They will learn self-expression and build gross motor skills.
Build something out of blocks or other building material to encourage spatial awareness, problem-solving skills and creativity.
How to Implement Play-Based Learning at Home
Some preschools and kindergartens offer play-based learning, but you can also adopt play-based activities at home. You may already be implementing play-based learning without realizing it!
Create a play-friendly environment by making a variety of toys and activities available and withholding criticism about the right or wrong way to play with them.
Frequently Asked Questions about Play-Based Learning
For more information, read these FAQs on play-based learning:
Is play-based learning suitable for all ages?
Play-based learning is suitable for any age, but the activities should be appropriate to the child’s cognitive and physical development.
What is the ideal age to start play-based learning?
Babies start play-based learning almost automatically as they interact with the world around them. It is never too early to encourage play.
Can play-based learning and traditional methods work together?
Absolutely. Children can gain benefits from different learning styles, and you should find what works best for your child.
Should you measure learning outcomes in play-based education?
Different methods are being developed for measuring play-based learning outcomes. When you enroll your child in preschool or kindergarten, you can ask if they measure outcomes and how they do it. To assess them on your own, you can review the kindergarten readiness standards for Indiana (or your own state).
How much playtime is optimal?
Health guidelines suggest three hours a day of play for young children.
When you look for early childhood education or care, ask the providers about their approach to play-based learning. For more help finding the right early child care options for you and your family, start here.