What play-based learning looks like, from babies to kindergarten

Many parents wonder the same thing: if my child plays all day, when do they learn? It is a fair question. For young children, play is one of the main ways they learn.

Picture a toddler who stacks three blocks, knocks them down, laughs and does it again. To a grown-up, it can look like nothing much. To the toddler, it is a lesson in how things balance, fall and fit together.

Is my child just playing all day?

Play-based learning means children explore, try things and ask questions through activities they enjoy, while adults watch, join in and gently guide. At Kidz In The Park, we blend educator-guided activities with child-led play. Our approach is rooted in play-based learning and positive relationships, and we believe every child learns and grows in their own way.

You can read this in writing. Page 1 of our Parent Handbook says that through play, exploration and supportive relationships, children build confidence, friendships, independence and the skills they need for their next stage of learning. Page 2 says we plan outdoor play at least once daily and aim for two chances when conditions allow.

Comparing centres? Our guide to choosing a daycare in Sherwood Park lists 10 things to look for on a tour.

What does play look like for babies and toddlers?

Babies learn through their senses: they look, listen, touch and taste. They also learn by moving, and they take in language long before they say a word.

In our infant program, activities are based on the children's interests. Educators spark curiosity and eagerness to learn through songs, music, stories and rhymes, as well as sensory activities, building and sorting, art exploration and outside play.

When the weather allows, our infants go for walks around the block in triple strollers or play in our large play yard. That is not "just playing." It is listening, language and curiosity at work.

In our toddler program, a day includes self-selected play, focused learning, books, songs and art projects. Each spring, the toddler and preschool groups also create container and raised-bed gardens in their outdoor space.

What does play look like for preschoolers?

Many preschoolers love to pretend. One day they run a shop, and the next they become a dragon. While they play, they practise taking turns, sharing ideas, solving small problems and finding new words. Our Parent Handbook lists imaginative play among the things our program offers.

Across the centre, children are immersed in language every day through books, stories, songs, poems and rhymes. Children also learn by looking after themselves. In our preschool program, children build self-help skills such as dressing themselves, toileting themselves and eating with utensils. Their day includes self-selected play, focused learning, books, circle time and finger plays.

What about kindergarten and starting school?

Getting ready for school is about more than letters and numbers. It often helps when a child can listen in a group, take turns and ask for help.

In our kindergarten program, children practise scissor and glue work, how to hold a pencil, letter and sound recognition, and writing or tracing letters and numbers. Their day includes free centre play, letter and sound games, books and calendar time.

The room's centres include construction, manipulatives (small toys to build and fit together), loose parts (open-ended pieces to use in many ways), puzzles and games, a kitchen and house area, and tabletop activities. Children play outside daily in our large playground.

What can I try at home?

Pick one that suits your family.

1. Talk, sing and read every day. Name what you see, sing the same songs and read the same book again. Rhymes can help children hear the sounds in words.
2. Let them get hands-on. A pot and a wooden spoon, soft blocks or a sturdy box can keep a child busy. Stay close, and choose things that are safe for their age, with no small parts that could come loose or fit in a small mouth.
3. Play pretend, and follow their lead. Let your child decide the story. You can be the customer, the patient or the dragon.
4. Count and sort in daily life. Count steps, match socks, sort the groceries. Try "I spy something that starts with the sound b."
5. Go outside and give small jobs. Take a short walk. Let your child put on their own shoes, even if it takes a while.

Every child grows at their own pace. If you are ever worried about your child's development, your family doctor is a good place to start.

Your next step: Read pages 1 and 2 of our Parent Handbook (PDF), where page 1 explains learning through play and page 2 shows a typical day.