Play is the Pathway to Learning

Play is an integral part of life and the pathway to all learning. As adults and educators, we sometimes forget the importance of play. As children, we all played and discovered new knowledge using our heads, hands, and hearts.

Play is an essential ingredient in work. Play is the ingredient that spurs our imagination and is the source of our most significant breakthroughs in science, technology, and life.

For children, play is the secret ingredient for learning. Play fosters new ideas and the willingness to try and try again. Play invites children to be open to failure while testing new ways of thinking and doing.

Children grasp new educational concepts faster through play. Children express joy in learning and connect knowledge from school to practical applications through play. I have observed this time and time again in my school-age care practice.

Our ability to create and maintain social connections and connect with others is through play. Educators who embrace play are more effective co-learners with children.

As educators, how do we embrace play if we are uncomfortable or out of practice?

Be open to children’s interests. As educators, we often spend much time planning our work with children. Instead, we could meet the children where they are and join them in play. We could take time to play a game, build with blocks, or paint. Pick an activity you enjoy and invite the children to do it with you. Being involved with the children, listening, sharing, and creating are essential. As we play with children, we make social connections.

As educators, our role in the classroom is to be present and play. The children are waiting to play, learn with us, and create connections within the learning community.