Young children learn in many different ways, but one of the most natural is through play. Building with blocks, creating artwork, pretending to run a store, exploring sensory materials or playing alongside other children may look simple, but these experiences can involve communication, problem-solving, creativity, movement and social interaction.
This is the idea behind play-based learning: creating meaningful opportunities for children to explore, experiment, interact and develop new skills through experiences that are engaging and appropriate for their stage of development.
For families comparing childcare programs, understanding how children learn through play can make it easier to recognize an environment that supports development while still allowing children to enjoy being children.
What Is Play-Based Learning?
Play-based learning is an approach that gives children opportunities to learn through exploration, imagination, movement, interaction and hands-on experiences.
Rather than expecting young children to spend most of their day receiving formal instruction, play-based environments allow them to actively participate in experiences that can introduce important concepts and skills.
For example, children building a tower together may be learning much more than how to stack blocks. They may be experimenting with balance and spatial relationships, communicating ideas, taking turns, solving problems and learning how to respond when their structure falls down.
The learning happens naturally through the experience.
1. Play Encourages Problem-Solving and Thinking Skills
Play frequently presents children with small challenges that encourage them to think, experiment and try again.
A puzzle piece may not fit where they first place it. A block structure may fall over. A toy may need to be shared with another child. During pretend play, children may need to decide who will take different roles.
These everyday situations can encourage children to ask questions, test ideas and discover different ways to approach a problem.
Activities involving building materials, puzzles, sorting, matching, pretend play and age-appropriate exploration can all create opportunities for children to develop early thinking skills.
2. Play Supports Communication and Language Development
Children have many reasons to communicate while they play.
They may describe what they are building, ask another child for a toy, explain the rules of an imaginary game, listen to an educator, sing songs or learn new words while exploring an activity.
These interactions can help children practise both speaking and listening.
Pretend play can be particularly valuable because children often create stories, assign roles and use language to explain what is happening. A pretend restaurant, grocery store or doctor’s office can introduce new vocabulary while encouraging children to communicate with one another.
Reading and storytelling can complement these experiences as well. Combining books, conversations and imaginative activities gives children different opportunities to hear and use language throughout the day.
3. Play Helps Children Develop Social Skills
Playing around other children creates opportunities to practise important social skills.
Depending on their age and developmental stage, children may gradually learn how to share materials, take turns, cooperate, communicate their needs and participate in group activities.
Not every social interaction will go perfectly, and that is part of learning too.
When disagreements happen, supportive educators can help children begin learning appropriate ways to communicate feelings, understand boundaries and work through everyday social situations.
These experiences can contribute to the development of relationships and help children become increasingly comfortable participating in a group environment.
4. Imaginative Play Encourages Creativity
Children can transform ordinary objects into almost anything through imagination.
A cardboard box can become a house. Blocks can become a city. A play kitchen can become a restaurant. Art materials can become something entirely new each time they are used.
Open-ended activities give children opportunities to make choices rather than always working toward one predetermined result.
This can encourage creativity, experimentation and self-expression.
It also allows different children to approach the same materials in different ways, reflecting their own interests and ideas.
5. Active Play Supports Physical Development
Early childhood development is not limited to communication and thinking skills. Children are also developing control over their bodies and movements.
Active play can provide opportunities to practise larger movements such as walking, running, climbing, balancing and jumping when appropriate environments and supervision are available.
Other activities can support smaller, more precise movements.
Drawing, building with blocks, completing puzzles, turning pages, manipulating play materials and using age-appropriate tools can encourage children to practise hand and finger coordination.
A balanced childcare environment can provide opportunities for both active movement and quieter hands-on exploration.
6. Play Can Support Emotional Development
Play can also give children a way to explore emotions and everyday experiences.
Through pretend play, children may recreate situations they have seen at home, at daycare or in their community. They can experiment with different roles and express ideas that may be difficult to explain directly.
Play also gives children opportunities to experience manageable challenges.
When something does not work immediately, children can learn to try again, ask for help or approach the problem differently. With appropriate encouragement from adults, these experiences can support confidence, independence and persistence.
7. What Is the Educator’s Role in Play-Based Learning?
Play-based learning does not mean children are simply given toys and left without guidance.
Educators can play an important role by preparing suitable environments, observing children’s interests, introducing appropriate materials and helping extend learning through conversation and questions.
For example, an educator watching children build with blocks might introduce words relating to size, shape, position or quantity. During pretend play, an educator might ask questions that encourage children to expand their story or consider another idea.
The goal is not necessarily to control every activity. Instead, educators can provide support that helps children explore ideas more deeply while keeping the experience engaging and age-appropriate.
8. Play Looks Different at Different Ages
Play-based learning should reflect a child’s age, abilities and developmental stage.
Infants may explore through movement, sounds, textures and responsive interactions with caregivers. Parents looking at care for younger babies can learn more in our guide to choosing infant daycare in Edmonton .
Toddlers often become increasingly interested in movement, imitation, sensory experiences and exploring materials independently. Our toddler daycare guide explains some of the things families can consider when comparing toddler programs.
As children grow, play can become increasingly social and complex. Preschool-aged children may participate in imaginative scenarios, collaborative projects, early literacy activities, art, music, construction and other experiences that encourage exploration.
9. What Parents Can Look for in a Play-Based Childcare Program
When visiting a daycare or preschool, parents can look beyond the number of toys in the room and consider how the environment is actually being used.
Some useful things to observe include:
- Whether children have access to age-appropriate activities and materials
- Whether there are opportunities for both active and quiet play
- How educators interact with children during activities
- Whether children are encouraged to explore and make appropriate choices
- How group activities and independent exploration are balanced
- Whether the environment appears organized, welcoming and appropriately supervised
- How educators respond when children need help or experience conflict
Seeing a childcare environment in person can provide much more context than photographs alone. Families considering Ellwood Daycare & OSC can schedule a daycare tour to learn more about the environment and programs.
Play-Based Learning at Ellwood Daycare & OSC
At Ellwood Daycare & OSC, we recognize that meaningful early learning can happen through everyday exploration, interaction and play.
Our childcare programs are designed to provide children with opportunities to learn, communicate, explore and participate in age-appropriate activities within a caring environment.
Families can explore our programs for different stages of childhood, including infant care, toddler care, preschool and out-of-school care.
Parents comparing childcare options may also want to read our guide on daycare costs in Edmonton to understand some of the factors to consider beyond the monthly fee.
Looking for Childcare in South Edmonton?
Choosing a childcare program is easier when you can see the environment and ask questions in person. Visit Ellwood Daycare & OSC to learn more about our programs, educators and childcare environment.