The Importance of Child-Led Play
You may be surprised that taking your child to dance and violin lessons is not the best way to help them climb up the ladder of success.
A pediatrician, author of The Toddler Brain says you should let your child decide what they want to do and how.
Play is the Work of Childhood
Laura argues that we need to rethink the meaning of ‘learning.’ We must stop believing that learning only happens in formal settings where lessons and instruction are given.
What we know is that many things, such as musical instruments and other skills, are best learned through play.
Child-led Play is also called creative free play. It describes a play in which the child explores their interests without any direction.
Kids get to play and explore. Laura says that’s how children learn about the world. They don’t just play with the toys they have but also with the other kids and the dynamics of playing with them.
Take a Look at the Toys that Your Children Have
She suggests that parents should avoid giving their children toys and activities that are overly prescriptive or that have very few play options.
“Toys are becoming more and more prescribed – they’re only to be used in a certain way.” I encourage parents to choose toys that are open-ended so they can be creative and do many different things.
LEGO is a great example of a toy that can be used in many ways. You can follow the instructions to make the toy on the box, or you can ignore them and create your design.
Laura says that she loves these blocks because they allow her to build complex structures. “It’s important that you can follow instructions and create a LEGO structure. LEGO’s most famous feature is the ability to create any structure you like.
As parents, we can encourage this open-ended play through questions and by encouraging our children to be creative. It’s important not to become so involved that we control the play!
What children-led Play Teaches Us About Our Kids
Children’s play can teach us many valuable lessons.
Laura explains, “In The Toddler Brain, I defined seven skills that are important for children to play and succeed in the world of today.” “And [the] last of these skills is a skill I call ‘what if,’ which is a child’s ability to imagine something not in front of them. What can you imagine? There’s a whole different part of your brain that is involved in this type of imaginative, creative thinking.
Other benefits are also available.
Laura says, “In a complex world that is rapidly changing and becoming more globalized, children need to learn to adapt and be able to look around and absorb new information.”
Solo Play has Many Benefits
Nothing is sweeter than watching your child secretly push cars around the floor or have a tea party on their bed with their teddy bear friends. If you listen carefully, you will often hear your child verbalizing their imaginative play.
Laura explains the meaning of this solo play. “One thing that children learn early is to understand the emotions and perspectives of others. This is part of the ability to learn how to get along with others. When a child makes a car sound when playing with a toy car, they are essentially trying to put themselves into the shoes of whomever or whatever they are playing with.”
In the end, they develop the ability to see things from another person’s point of view, which encourages empathy and compassion. They will be able to develop both traits, which will make them better human beings throughout their lives.
What is Child-led Play (CLP)?
It’s all about letting the children “go” and do what they want to learn and grow.
If your child is deeply immersed in his or her world, they will follow the deep play patterns that are coded into the body and developing brain. This applies to both when interacting with other children and if he/she is playing alone. This type of play can be extremely beneficial. This is necessary for human development to take place as intended.
It is our duty as adults to guide and support these young “learning sponges” and to wait and watch them invent, explore, and discover.
Every child has a built-in readiness meter’. This keeps them safe, and feeling secure is essential for optimal learning. Children assess and summarize any new situation before engaging. Please allow your child/children to play for as long as they need to feel comfortable.
How Young Children Learn
- Built-in Information Receptors
As we all do, children experience the world through their senses: by seeing, feeling, smelling, and tasting/em>… moving around, balancing themselves or hearing. Children experience the world with their senses, just as we do. by seeing, feeling,g, and smelling. , moving, balance, ng or hearing. The more senses you have, the better you will be able to ‘know’ what you are experiencing.
- Super Senses
The two most important senses that young children learn are vision, touch (which includes motion and equilibrium ), and balance.
- Sight
Children notice things we adults often miss.
They will also be scanning your face and eyes to determine if you find spiders ‘okay,’ if they’re ‘ scary,’ if they’re ‘yucky,’ or even if they’re ‘okay.’ Eye contact with your child is a great way to provide them with information. You are the safe ground for them to feel relaxed and safe.
- Touch
From the moment a child has hand-eye coordination, they want to touch everything!
Does it move, or is it still? Is it moving or still? Touch transmits a huge amount of information! The brain and the fingertips form an information highway.
There is also a super information highway where you can get more information by combining touch, smell, and taste. It’s something we have all done, and our babies do it too… into the mouth. The mouth contains the highest number of nerve endings in the body. This allows for a feel, scent, and flavor to be experienced at the same time. As you place the ‘treasures’ in your mouth, sensory information is also coming from your fingers.
When you next see a child putting dirt, sticks, or leaves in their mouths, remember that this is what they are doing. They are gathering information about the ground they are standing on. It is normal for children to eat dirt, and some studies suggest it is good for them.
- Movement
Have you ever seen a child or baby lay still or sit when they’re not asleep?
Both movement and motion stimulate the brain. The brain of a baby will grow between 25% and 80% of the adult size in its first two years. Scientists have identified movement as a key factor in achieving this growth. It is, more specifically, the rocking motion that they “grew in” in the womb.
- Modelling
You are the model: Your child will ‘download’ the way you interact with the world of Nature. Will teach your children. You teach your children how to appreciate Nature by coming to Nature Play to experience the seasons, weather, trees, plants, creatures, birds, children, and each other. “It is what you do”. You will grow in your love for the Earth, and the children will grow as well. You teach them that the environment in which we live is important and enjoyable. They will learn that the birds, berries, and worms around us are all important components of our Living Earth.
What is the Role of Adults in Child-led Play?
- Follow Their Lead
When your child decides to explore, you will not have to be there. It is curiosity that drives their learning and wonder. When you allow your child to lead their explorations, you become a “learning ally.”
- Wait and watch
We can all relate to the excitement of discovery. A learning ally will take a step back and let the child discover what climbing is like or how wet leaves smell. A learning ally will support the child if needed or requested.
Let’s not rush in and name the creature in the hands of the person who is learning or perfecting their body. Instead, let us stand back. We can wait and watch to see if we are invited to help.
- Supporting Role
You can support your child in many ways when they play;
- You are their most important support. You are the safe-ground.’ They feel safe to play and to learn as long as you are visible, and they know that they can connect with you whenever they wish.
- You are on their radar. They look at you to get a read on any situation. Your facial expressions will let your child know whether this experience was a positive or negative one.
- You can be close to your child, or the child of someone else, if you know that they are stretching their physical abilities.
Enjoying yourself is a great way to pass the time!
We don’t like being interrupted while we are in the middle of a fascinating activity. Let’s be respectful of our children and let them finish their work. We may need to remind them that it’s almost time for home or listen to them to know when they are ready to leave.
What are the Benefits of Play-based Learning?
1. Imagination and Creativity
Play-based learning can foster creativity and imagination, which is why it is important for the early development of children. Children who engage in imaginative games are free to explore new ideas and try out different scenarios. They can also express themselves in their unique way.
This process promotes the development and application of creative thinking in various areas of life.
Children often create imaginary characters and worlds during play. This allows them to use their imagination and be creative. Children can create stories, solve problems in these narratives, and find innovative solutions.
Open-ended games encourage children to explore their imaginations and think outside the box.
2. Self-Expression
Play-based learning promotes expression. Children can express their emotions and thoughts through various forms of play, such as painting, drawing, or building with blocks.
It helps them to develop an identity and the confidence to express themselves creatively.
3. Playing with Problems to Develop Problem-Solving Skills
Play-based learning helps children develop problem-solving abilities in addition to encouraging creativity. Play-based learning helps children develop problem-solving skills as they face challenges, whether they are building a block tower or navigating an obstacle course.
The process helps them gain confidence in their ability to overcome obstacles.
4 Resilience & Adaptability
Play-based learning promotes resilience, adaptability, and experimentation. During play, children are encouraged to take risks and make mistakes. Children learn that failures are part of the process of learning and can be overcome by perseverance.
It helps them build their resilience and teach them how to adapt to different situations. These are essential skills to solve problems in the real world.
