Children need time to play. How do we find time to provide that in our busy days?
Start by taking some of the pressure off of yourself when it comes to scheduling. You don’t need to schedule every moment and entertain your children constantly. Allow for free time and let them play. We learned in the first installment of our play-based learning series that play is defined as a process that is freely chosen, personally directed and intrinsically motivated.
Play-Based Learning Strategies
There are many ways to incorporate play-based strategies both in and outside of the home.
If your child will attend childcare, seek out a program that fosters play-based learning. Research indicates that there is no benefit in introducing academics earlier in life. However, there is a lot of information available that instills parents with fear that their child will ‘fall behind’ if they don’t engage in programs and activities that directly teach academics. It’s no wonder that well-meaning parents and caregivers seek out programs and activities that promise to accelerate development. However, when you change your mindset about play, you can embrace the play-based learning that occurs while your child is engaged and enjoying themselves through freely chosen activities and self-directed actions.
Making the Most of Play Based Learning
Parents and caregivers can enhance the play experience through the materials and toys that are provided. Contrary to what advertising would have you believe, the latest, newest, most expensive toys or gadgets are not needed and can actually hinder the quality of play. Generally, the more the toy does the less learning and engagement happens.
Open-ended toys and materials are those that can be used in endless ways based on your child’s interests, imagination, and development. There is no right or wrong way to use open-ended toys and materials. I say “toys and materials” because some of the best toys are not actual toys. Sticks can become many things in play. So can stones, leaves etc. Young children will play for hours with the box that the new toy came in, or with the pots and lids from the cupboard.
Affordable Toys for Play-Based Learning
You don’t have to break the bank in order to give your child an enriching play-based experience.
Some examples of affordable open-ended toys are:
Blocks of all sorts, that don’t have a specific project attached to them, for example a bucket of random Legos instead of a set that builds something specific
Blank paper and crayons
Variety of art materials
The Dollar Store or equivalent discount store in your area are great places to find open-ended materials. However, I did discover on my last visit that most items now cost more than $1 and items sold for up to $5!
My granddaughter will be about 5 months old at Christmas and I wanted to put together a basket of toys for her to have at my place that encourages learning through the senses and exploration. Very few of these items would be considered actual toys. The items for her basket include,
A muffin tin with 4 large openings
An orange and yellow ball with faces on them. They fit into the openings on the muffin tin.
A funnel with a large opening
A package of 3 scouring pads, not too rough.
A nail brush
2 small whisks
Some Christmas bells on a bracelet and a necklace
A bright orange car wash sponge
A small metal bucket
A battery operated light that changes color with a slight touch.
A couple of small photo albums that I will put pictures of family, pets and other things that are familiar to her.
Putting Yourself In Your Child’s Shoes
Look at things through the eyes of a child. Everything is interesting and full of possibilities. Corks, stones or shells will become food or many other things. Scarves can hide things, become clothing or a doll’s blanket. Quality play-based learning does not require masses of expensive materials. Less is more rings true for children’s play environment. Too much can be overwhelming-not to mention the issue of tidying up! Toys kept in labeled or see through containers make it easy for children to choose and to return things to the right place. Have you ever tried to find something in a full toy box? It’s okay to rotate toys so that not everything is available at a time.
I also know that it doesn’t take long before children are asking for the latest and greatest, as advertised, toys. I am not suggesting that it's wrong or harmful for them to have those things. Use your own discretion while keeping in mind the purpose and benefit of open-ended materials for play-based learning. It doesn’t have to be one or the other. There can be a balance of both.
Conclusion
Thank you for reading along with this 3-part series on the importance of play and play-based learning for children.
If you take anything away from my series I hope it’s the following:
Let them play!
Play nurtures resilience and learning
Play with them when you can
Follow their lead in play.
Observe children at play to notice their strengths, interests and learning
Provide safe play environments and a variety of open-ended materials.
And above all-be creative and have fun-because that’s what play is all about!
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