Learning Through Play

Joy and curiosity are cultivated during play, helping children develop a natural love for learning. Children practice social skills such as cooperation, sharing, and turn-taking, and these interactions contribute to language development. Play encourages creativity and imagination, allowing children to share stories and explore their ideas. Through play, children take risks, try new things, and build confidence in their abilities.

 

 

The Play Continuum

 

During play, educators have varying roles, depending on the goals and scaffolding needed. Play-based learning happens along a continuum of child direction and educator guidance.

 

 

 

Planning for Play

 

Educators can support play-based learning through intentional design and planning using guiding questions:

 

 

• What types of play do you notice most often in your learning environment, and how do they support growth?
• In what ways do your classroom practices support children in expressing emotions like frustration, boredom, or joy?
• Does your space encourage movement, fidgeting, and creativity? If not, what might be adapted? How can your daily schedule or environment make more room for spontaneous and imaginative play?
• How do you support the unique ways each child learns through play?
• How might classroom norms or expectations unintentionally limit children's natural ways of exploring?

 

"Children are biologically engineered for constant intellectual and physical play. They are designed to question, daydream, pretend, arrange block towers and doll houses, wiggle, fidget, run, jump, laugh, cry, be frustrated, be absorbed, be bored, be creative, and above all, to be different. And they have much to teach us."

 

- Sahlberg & Doyle

 

Assessing Play-Based Learning

 

Assessment in play-based learning is a dynamic, active, and ongoing process that happens as educators observe, listen, and engage with children in their play. Rather than using formal tests or checklists alone, educators gather rich insights by noticing children's interests, ideas, problem-solving, and interactions. These observations help inform responsive teaching, support individual learning journeys, and make children's thinking and growth visible. Assessment during play honors the whole child, valuing their creativity, curiosity, and agency as central to the learning process.

 

Effective methods for gathering and evaluating play-based learning include:

 

• Having conversations with children about their thinking and intentions
• Observing children in the moment
• Listening to children's interactions as they play
• Talking, prompting, or asking children questions during the process
• Thinking and wondering about what is happening
• Documenting children's play
• Noticing the product of children's play
• Reflecting on the process of play
• Engaging in conversation with children after the experience
• Debriefing with colleagues, children and/or families