The reality of life today places an emphasis on schedules and academics, where the thinking is that a child’s day must be filled with carefully planned, teacher-led lessons. While this type of instruction certainly has its place, studies have found that children need to simply “play freely”.
Here at Celebree, we never underestimate the benefits of play. We understand that it facilitates the power of imagination and exploration. Play is serious learning! It leads to lifelong curiosity and confidence.
Play = Skill Building
While participating in free play, children can continuously make choices, socialize, and solve problems. When building towers or pretending to cook a 4-course meal, they are learning to:
- Think creatively
- Develop leadership and communication skills
- Work with others
These skills are needed later in life, whether it be at school, work, or in relationships. Free play enables children to become independent thinkers. These skills cannot be learned from worksheets alone.
Play = Strong Social/Emotional Development
Teacher-led learning often focuses on what children may already know. Playing freely puts the focus on feelings and connections. Pretend play, sharing and conflict management allow children to learn:
- Empathy
- Self-regulation
- Resilience
These social/emotional skills are just as important as academic skills, as they become the basis on which strong, healthy personal bonds are formed and where confidence is boosted for later in life.
Play = More Meaningful Learning
When a child is engaged in play, they become deeply focused. This is when real learning can “flow” organically:
- Through hands-on discovery children are exploring math, literacy and science concepts
- While in the flow, children are freely questioning ideas and making concrete lifelong real-world connections
- Most importantly, this flow allows children to associate learning with joy
At Celebree, we don’t just teach the facts, we allow children the time to discover all on their own and practice being the creative, capable people they are meant to be. So next time you see children deep in play, do not think “Oh, they are just messing around”, but instead, acknowledge that they are in fact practicing those vital skills needed to get through this thing called life!
