Play-based learning is a valued part of early childhood education. However, it is a concept that can be used throughout all grade levels. In embracing playful learning in the classroom, students have the opportunity to find meaning throughout the experience. They make choices and are empowered to decide on their process.
Empowering students through play-based learning helps educators understand the diverse interests of students and how they approach various topics. Understanding student interests helps strengthen connections with home and school. Play-centered lessons offer students the opportunity to arrange their schedules and classroom space, thereby supporting their learning process. It also allows students time for reflection.
Play-based lessons help students bond and work together. Together, they learn about each other and have meaningful conversations about solutions to an activity. They experience different perspectives as they work together.
With play-based learning, students engage in hands-on activities. Hands-on means minds-on activities engage both sides of the brain. As students work with their hands and minds, they build flexible thinking. Thus, enabling them to adapt to change while promoting mental wellness.
Play-Based Benefits
There are many benefits of play-based activities that positively affect students.
- Language is enhanced as students listen to peers or conduct research on subjects of interest. It helps students with written and oral communication skills.
- Active learning gives students opportunities to explore their world.
- Active-play (learning) builds social development. It helps the development of relationships with peers of similar interests.
- Activities that involve exploration involve students connecting with their emotions and learning acceptable classroom behavior.
- Students in lower grades can concentrate and build on their physical abilities.
- As students work with each other, they explore their imaginative and creative sides of thinking.
- Lastly, students become positive about attending class and have the desire to learn.
Create a Balance
Blending play-based learning with traditional learning provides students with different techniques for learning. It accommodates the learning styles of students. It’s effective because it promotes students to be creative, communicate, think critically, and solve problems.
Blending teaching methods includes resources online, from books, from experts, and face-to-face instruction. It allows flexibility for students to work at their own pace. Research shows that blended learning methods improve a student’s academic performance.
However, each teaching style affects student learning differently. With an understanding of the various instructional styles, a teacher’s approach helps every student to succeed. The selection of one teaching style is difficult. Thus, flexibility to explore different styles is important.
