Learning Through Play: A guide for parents

How Can Parents Encourage Learning Through Play?

Take time to observe your child’s play. This will give you the opportunity to learn about your child’s motor, language, and intellectual development. With infants, watch how they pick up a rattle or how they hold a ball. You will discover how toddlers categorize objects. When you watch your children at play, you will be amazed how they perceive the world and those around them. Watch how they play house or play school. Watch your child handling frustration and reaching resolution. Think how important this will be later in life.

Let your child play without you. Sometimes play should be just for children. Allow your child to choose activities that seem fun and pleasurable. This will enhance development of independence and self-direction as your child freely makes choices about what to play with and how to play. This is not to say that you need not give up your role as parent by relinquishing all decisions to your child. Rather, look for opportunities where your child can make safe and developmentally appropriate choices that encourage independence. For example, painting a picture of a dog using green paint may seem unrealistic to an adult, but, for a child, this may be an important way to be creative and independent.

Give room to play. Give not only physical space but give noise space. Let children move their bodies, laugh, be loud, be messy, and be quiet. It is giving the range of space that helps children understand boundaries and limits.

Create opportunities for free play. Make sure that your child has as much time as possible each week for free play. This might include playing a board game, running outside, going to the park, building a fort, dressing up, or playing make believe. Supply, when possible, generic play items such as empty boxes, egg cartons, art materials, or even pie tins to enhance creativity and opportunities for play.

Go battery/electricity free for a day. Since we live in an age when many of today’s toys are battery operated or electric, suggest play days where these toys are not used. Instead, encourage your child to put on a play, play a board game, write a story, build a fort, draw, anything that does not involve batteries or electricity. Volunteer to join with your child so that the whole family can be involved. Primarily, these activities help children find a way to play creatively and make decisions about how they play.

Play with your child. If you really want to know your kids, you have to play with them. Play between parents and their children is essential in developing children’s feelings of attachment, security, and connectedness. Your child needs your time. After all, your child’s primary form of communication very well may be play, so get involved if they want you to. Remember, though, that you are the adult and your child is the child, and this is your child’s time.

Let your child lead. Remember, if your child wants you to play, play as a partner, not the play leader. Have your child tell you what to do and be aware of when your child does not want you there. This is not a time to instruct your child. Nor is it the time for you to be in charge. Reflect your child’s feeling and reinforce efforts to try something different. Above all, support your child.

Summary

Through play, children explore the world around them, imagine alternatives, solve problems individually or with others, learn how to negotiate, learn how to express their feelings, and learn to be creative. From infants to toddlers to school-age children, play is an essential part of learning. 

Julia