Embracing a Play-Based Curriculum in Early Childhood Education

The importance of play-based curriculum in early childhood education cannot be exaggerated. Teeny Beans recently held a webinar discussing the advantages of the play-based approach in Early Childhood Education. In this blog the main ideas that we will talk about are the benefits of a play-based curriculum for children's overall development and how educators can practically implement them in the class.

What is  Play-based Preschool Curriculum?

Play based curriculum is an educational methodology where play is emphasized to be an essential component. This method acknowledges that while play is a recreational activity, it is also an essential tool for learning. Children learn to solve problems, take chances, and utilize their imaginations via play.

It has been seen that when Play-based learning is incorporated in preschool activities, children learn better and faster. They retain what they have learned more. Some play based activities can be sensory play activities, such as sandpit play, where kids can experiment with various textures.

Dress-up clothes and pretend kitchens or pretend shops  may be used to foster creative play that helps kids practice language and social skills, activities of practical life, all the while learning how to react in a variety of roles and situations.
 

The Developmental Benefits of Play-Based Learning

• The play-based learning is holistically developmental for children. Activities with large movements like running and climbing help in the gross muscle movements of the child.
• While playing a child has to use his problem-solving skills to play well. They have to show intellectual curiosity to understand how to play. Ans this leads to their cognitive development.
• When children play in group they learn to work with others, within a group when they play with others they learn to self-regulate their emotions and gain confidence on their own skills.
• Have you ever noticed a child is comfortably playing, with others or by him/herself? The child, you will notice, keeps on speaking while playing. This babbling and creating stories about the game leads to language development.
• You often see the child making up elaborate stories about real like scenarios where they role play as their parents or teachers. These games help in making real life connections where the child puts their play learned concept in real life scenarios.
• Play-based learning can also be important for children with SEND because it can help them develop social and emotional skills, like building relationships with peers.

Research Supporting Play-Based Learning

Several researches and studies have highlighted the usefulness of Play based learning. More of which has been discussed in our Webinar. Some of these researches are :

High/Scope Perry Preschool Study:

This long-term research indicates that children who attended excellent play-based programs went on to have superior adult academic, social, and financial success.

Research from the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) shows that play-based activities help children grow more socially, emotionally, and cognitively, preparing them for school.

Research from the OECD has once again shown a connection between play-based learning settings and enhanced emotional control as well as cognitive development, which enhances learning results and overall wellbeing.

Addressing Challenges in Implementing Play-Based Learning

Implementing a play-based curriculum can become challenging to balance play with academic requirements. To overcome these challenges strategies followed include integrating play into academic learning, making sure to communicate well the benefits of play-based learning to parents and administrators, establishing a clearcut routine for the kids and expectation from the curriculum, and providing good professional development for educators.

 

Balancing Structured Activities and Free Play

Free play and planned exercises are balanced in a well-rounded curriculum. Creating a flexible schedule, incorporating learning goals into play, offering a variety of play options, supporting child-led learning, facilitating play rather than directing it, adding playful elements to structured activities, and clearly outlining expectations and transitions are some ways to accomplish this.

A play-based curriculum nurtures in a child physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development which together provides a holistic early childhood education. With Play based curriculum teachers create an engaging learning environment in their classrooms that would prepare the students for future academic achievement and instill in them a love of learning by embracing play as a major part of the learning process.

We at Teeny Beans are dedicated to putting these ideas into practice so that every child may enjoy a play-based education and experience all its benefits. Come along with us as we embrace this method and assist our youngest learners' overall development.