From the moment that a baby is born, they are learning. Learning to eat and to sleep, learning the routine of life. When you think about it “learning” does not stop. It is a continuous process throughout life.
However, when you embark on your childcare journey you will be inundated with theories, philosophies and lots and lots of opinions. So how do you know what is best for your little one?
At Piptree we are passionate about giving your child the best start to their childhood education and we believe that the best way for our children to learn is through play based learning.
Play Based Learning
Play-based learning is the learning that happens when children engage in play. Play is not an easy concept to define as it means different things to different people. In fact, it is anything that can be pleasurable, symbolic/pretend, meaningful and active. Play is now considered to be so essential for children’s development that it has been recognised by the UN High Commission for Human Rights as a right of every child.
The 5 Ways that Play Based Learning Help your Child Grow
At Piptree we have embraced the concept of play based learning as we have seen the ways that it can benefit your child. Below we discuss 5 ways play based learning can help your child grow.
- Brain Development – By participating in different types of play, young children naturally develop a mix of motor and language skills which then stimulate cognitive development.
- Social Skills – Play offers a great platform for your child to develop their social skills in a controlled environment. When playing with other children they have the opportunity to practice important skills such as sharing, taking turns, working as a team and being a member of a group. Play can also provide the opportunity to develop the early stages of leadership skills.
- Communication – Play is an opportunity for children to communicate and connect with parents / educators in a non-threatening way. Play can provide the platform for children to talk about their ideas or worries as they can often have difficulty expressing their feelings. Play is a positive environment where children can feel safe and encouraged to share their thoughts as they engage in the activity.
- Problem Solving – Play based tasks can help children to master new skills. It can also introduce children to the concept of problem solving. This is such an important life skill and it will help to prepare your child for formal schooling.
- Relaxation – Life just keeps getting busier and busier and children are more scheduled than ever before. So, it is more important than ever that children get enough play. Play is relaxing and it is fun. In this fast paced society, it is easy for our children to become busy and stressed. Play can provide children an avenue for stress release and help them to recalibrate.
Whether play is structured and teacher lead; or spontaneous / organic free play, we believe that it is the foundation for childhood education.
At Piptree we believe that the best social and emotional environment for a child is one that is secure, warm and promotes trusting relationships.
