“Children learn best through play.”

Anyone who has observed young children knows that they want to spend most of their time playing. Increasingly, early childhood educators are showing that play is more than just a pleasant pastime for children. Developmentally, it is their job!

Play is an integral part of young children’s development and learning about the world, themselves, and others.

Educational researchers have identified an approach called “Learning Through Play” as the most effective approach for children aged 0 to 8. In it, planned learning goals are explored through play-based activities and scenarios.

Benefits of Play-Based Learning

Research in child development, education, and neuroscience shows that for children under eight years of age, “the most effective and age-appropriate approach is a balanced approach of short periods of direct adult instruction in a play-based learning environment.

@ Communication and Language Development

As children collaborate, explore, and try new things, they learn to communicate their own ideas and needs to their classmates and listen to their classmates in turn. These conversations help them practice new vocabulary and build skills around paying attention to their classmates, activities, and adult directions and questions. This also relates to language development, reading, and writing skills.

@ Social-Emotional Development and Social Skills

Pretend play, in which children adopt roles and act out scenes, has social, emotional benefits. Children get to imagine themselves in different roles and develop empathy for both imaginary characters and their peers. Playing with other children involves communicating needs, taking turns, cooperating, and working together to solve problems. It also involves regulating their own emotions, an important aspect of social-emotional learning.

@ 21st Century Learning Skills

These skills include collaboration, communication, critical thinking, creative innovation, thinking and reasoning, problem solving, cognitive skills, and self-confidence. The experience of successfully solving a problem or mastering a topic contributes not only to a child’s sense of confidence in themselves as learners, but also to their self-image as scientists or investigators.

@ Physical Development

Playful, engaging play gives children the opportunity to practice and refine both gross and fine motor skills in a fun way.

@ Love of Learning

Young children who learn and play with no pressure other than their own curiosity and the example of their teachers can develop a sense of ownership, self-image as investigators, and confidence in themselves as learners. Acting under their own agency and giving full reign to their creativity and curiosity, young children can develop a positive attitude toward learning as they “confidently explore challenges, set goals, take appropriate risks, and learn to persevere.”

This method emphasizes nurturing the whole child by developing the five senses with hands-on learning experiences that involve skills and art.

Teachers create conditions for children to be interested in learning, leading them to think critically and creatively. Depending on the topic of the project. Children participate in projects to solve real-life problems and explore new topics.

Characteristics of the Project Approach:

• Students are active learners and acquire knowledge about the world around them through practical experiences.

• This method focuses on creativity and imagination rather than academics.

• The Project Approach has some similarities with learning through play. That is, it advocates teaching children lessons through practical activities such as building blocks, playing with clay, baking, gardening, etc.

• Preschoolers often work in non-competitive group environments. It is up to the child to decide whether to learn by using hands-on methods or through observation.

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It is a term often used to refer to science education. This approach stems from the view that children who are exposed to science at an early age have many benefits.

The goal of this approach is to engage young children in scientific exploration by engaging them in hands-on activities, such as playing with blocks.

Characteristics of the STEM approach:

• Children are provided with materials and invited to “experiment”. Teachers act as guides and give requests for children to challenge their abilities.

• Students discuss, share questions, observe, and draw their own lessons.

• STEM programs also integrate scientific exploration into everyday activities such as gardening and outdoor play.

• This method does not focus on theory, but on practice and real-life experiences as lessons for children.

• Children learn how to analyze and solve problems proactively, thereby promoting creativity.

The Montessori method is based on an individualistic approach to education and is based on the principle that all children are naturally curious and have the ability to learn independently.

Characteristics of the Montessori method:

• Child-oriented, student-centered; teachers act as guides, assessors and design appropriate activities for children.

• Children can learn and develop at their own pace. The Montessori environment creates opportunities for children to develop personal skills and independence (different from Reggio Emilia).

• Children have the opportunity to explore, experience and take responsibility for their own work.

• The classroom is carefully prepared with corners or materials according to Montessori standards.

• The class can include students of different ages.

Reggio Emilia educational method objectives
Focus on teamwork, problem-solving skills, and the ability to come up with surprising and creative ideas.

Characteristics of the Reggio Emilia method
Children are the subject in all activities: Children are free to explore, research, ask questions and propose solutions. Teachers are only guides, observers and provide children with necessary materials, children are free to think and find appropriate ways to complete them.

Children speak their own language and realize their thoughts in many different ways: While performing activities, children will think and have many different approaches, their creativity will choose and experience what is suitable for them.

The environment is the third teacher of children: with the Reggio Emilia method, the environment is the place for children to realize their ideas. Most Reggio Emilia programs are equipped with diverse areas such as full of clay, paint, natural materials... to let children freely express their creativity.

Teachers and parents act as companions to children: There will be no imposition or coercion on children. Teachers and parents only act as companions to children, inspiring and stimulating their creativity.