Why Do We Use Play-Based Learning? Blocks Edition

By Wendy Miller, Preschool Co-Teacher

Learning through play allows children to explore their curiosities and build their self-confidence.

Through play, children are learning many skills that will help them be successful students and adults, such as critical thinking, problem solving, emotional regulation and communication. Most of the play in Yellow House, one of Goodman's 3-year-old classrooms, is free play, which is child-lead and completely voluntary. We also have guided play, which is more teacher-lead with a few learning targets. We know that children love to play, and strive to incorporate as much play into our classroom as possible.

Yellow house has ten different play centers for students to choose from. Each child gets to choose where they play and for how long during free play time. This allows students to explore at their own pace. They also get to practice playing in different spaces with different people. Our teachers and volunteers also join in the play centers. Each center has props, toys, and tools that allow students to build their creativity, curiosity and connections in the classroom.

In the blocks play center, students can use blocks, Legos, cars, animals and their imagination to create different structures and scenarios. While playing, our preschoolers are improving their problem-solving, spatial awareness and attention span, as well as other skills.

Our students love to create castles, airplanes, houses and stores. We're constantly impressed with the new ways our preschoolers imagine their play. When students are constructing as they play, they are improving their memory, focus and critical-thinking skills.