CURRICULUM
What is play-based learning?
Play-based learning is a valuable approach in early education, focusing on children's natural curiosity and creativity. It helps develop academic skills, along with social, emotional, and cognitive abilities. This method incorporates play as a central part of learning, recognizing that children learn best through active engagement and exploration. It is child-initiated and teacher-supported, with teachers encouraging children to expand their thinking through interactions. This approach fosters problem-solving, critical thinking, and decision-making skills, laying a strong foundation for future academic success.
There are many benefits of play-based learning for a child's development. Some of these are included below.
Our curriculum is aligned with the PA Learning Standards for Early Childhood, which can also be found below.
Promotes language development
A child's vocabulary significantly improves during the preschool years. Play-based learning allows children to explore new vocabulary words in an organic, relevant, and authentic way. Play-based learning also allows children to engage in different forms of playful and reciprocal conversations. For example, when children are engaged in pretend play, one child may take on the role of the doctor and the other as the patient. Both children may take a turn asking a question or sharing information relevant to their roles. Educators can support children's language development by introducing new words, participating in games, encouraging conversations, and asking questions.
Fosters creativity and imagination
Fostering imagination and creativity in young children have endless benefits for their social-emotional and cognitive development. When a child engages in play, they have the opportunity to explore and develop their problem-solving and interpersonal skills. Play sparks and develops creativity and imagination. Pretend play typically emerges when a child is about two years old. You might observe them feeding a doll or rocking them to sleep. Later stages of pretend play become more complex with different settings, roles, props, and achieving a common goal with a peer.
Develops social-emotional skills
Play-based learning has a significant impact on a child's social and emotional development. They learn how to manage and deal with their emotions and the emotions of others. Children also learn to communicate their needs with their peers and other essential skills like turn-taking and conflict resolution when playing. As they play, they are figuring out how to patiently wait for their turn to access an area or work with a material, negotiate, cooperate, and solve problems with their peers. All these are indispensable social skills.
Creates a positive disposition toward learning
There are so many ways play-based learning can improve a child’s attitude toward learning. With self-chosen play, children are more invested and engaged in activities because they're driven by their own interests and curiosity. Giving children autonomy during play is not only fulfilling, but also allows children to confidently explore challenges, make goals, take appropriate risks, and learn to be persistent.
Improves motor skills
Play also enhances a child's motor skills. For example, activities such as painting, drawing, and building boost fine motor skills, while jumping, throwing, climbing, and running boost gross motor skills.
Play is our brAIn's favorite way of learning.
Diane Ackerman
Contact Us
We would love to hear from you! Please contact us.
Way to Grow Nursery School
22 Maplewood Mall, Philadelphia, PA 19144
Shirley Wardlaw, Director/Owner Email: Shirley@WaytoGrowNurserySchool.org Phone: (215) 820-3187