What is Play Based Learning?

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What is play based learning? In this article, we’ll explore what play-based learning is, how it works, why it’s such a valuable approach in early childhood education.

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Should we take our kids outside more? Is my child getting enough STEM?  Is my child reading enough? Does my child like to learn?

As parents, we’re often bombarded with ideas about the best ways to teach our children and prepare them for life. It can be overwhelming and worrisome, when really, at the root of it all, we just want the best for our own families. 

In recent years, one concept has gained significant attention: play-based learning. 

But what exactly is it? Will this just be another trend or is “play-based learning” the natural approach we’ve all been looking for? 

In this article, we’ll explore what play-based learning is, how it works, why it’s such a valuable approach in early childhood education, and how KiwiCo is the parenting tool that may just be the answer to all your parenting questions. 

What is Play-Based Learning? 

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At its core, play-based learning is an educational approach that uses play as the primary method of learning. It’s a child-centered practice that allows kids to explore, experiment, and discover new things through activities they naturally enjoy. 

Whether it’s building towers with blocks, pretending to be astronauts, or drawing imaginative scenes, children are learning as they play. 

Think about it: have you seen your child pretend to be a grocery store owner? Maybe in scanning items to place in the pretend grocery cart, your child started counting the items. While playing, your child practiced their counting skills!

Play-based learning goes beyond just having fun; it’s about creating meaningful experiences that help children develop critical skills. From social interaction and communication to problem-solving and creativity, play helps kids grasp complex concepts in a hands-on and engaging way. 

How Does Play-Based Learning Work? 

Still not sure how learning can happen through something as simple as play? The beauty of play-based learning is that it integrates key developmental milestones without the structure of traditional lessons. Here are five ways that playing engages those milestones: 

1. Exploration and Curiosity: Children are naturally curious, and play-based learning taps into this. When kids are allowed to follow their interests, they’re more motivated to explore and ask questions because they intrinsically care about the topic.  You’ve probably witnessed this yourself: maybe you’ve seen your child dumping water between different containers at a water table. Developmentally, they’re not just having fun; they’re also learning about volume, measurement, and even basic physics. 

2. Imaginative Play: Role-playing and imaginative scenarios are a huge part of play-based learning. When children pretend to be chefs in a kitchen, firefighters saving the day, princesses twirling at a ball, or mommy and daddy with their stuffed animals, they’re not just being creative. They’re also practicing language, problem-solving, and social skills, all while developing a deeper understanding of the world around them. 

3. Active Engagement: When children are engaged, they retain information better. How much more likely will your child be able to recall the plot of a story about a princess than if you act out the story in full costumes? 

4. Social Skills Development: Many times, solo play turns into group play which encourages children to interact with others, share ideas, negotiate roles, and solve conflicts. These social interactions help them develop emotional intelligence, empathy, and cooperation skills, which are essential for building healthy relationships later in life. 

5. Emotional Growth: Through play, children often explore emotions in a safe environment. Maybe while pretending to be superheroes, your kids deal with frustration handling a bad guy, take turns saving one another in difficult scenarios, and celebrate successes when they solve the bad guy problem. These experiences are vital for emotional regulation and resilience. 

The Benefits of Play-Based Learning 

Play-based learning is more than just a trendy concept; it shows a wide range of benefits, especially in the early childhood years. Here are some of the key advantages: 

• Improved Cognitive Development: Children who engage in imaginative and interactive play tend to develop better memory, problem-solving, and language skills. When children are involved in hands-on activities, they make connections that help them understand abstract concepts more easily. 
• Creativity and Imagination: Play fosters creativity. When kids are given the freedom to explore their surroundings and think outside the box, they develop their imagination. 
• Better Social Skills: One of the most significant benefits of play-based learning is the development of social skills. Through group activities and role-playing, children learn to cooperate, negotiate, and communicate effectively with their peers. 
• Enhanced Language Skills: Play is a natural way for children to develop language. Whether they’re talking to themselves during solitary play or chatting with friends during group activities, play encourages kids to use language to express their thoughts, emotions, and ideas. This constant practice helps improve vocabulary, sentence structure, and comprehension. 

Are you convinced that play-based learning is what your family needs but aren’t sure how to foster an authentic play-based learning philosophy in your own home? 

KiwiCo is just what your family needs! Read on to learn about what KiwiCo is and how to sign up for KiwiCo products!

KiwiCo: A Perfect Fit for Play-Based Learning

KiwiCo is a company that creates hands-on projects for kids of all ages, providing opportunities for learning through play. Have you come across a crate subscription for your children yet? KiwiCo has got a hold on this market because of its masterful understanding and balance of children’s interests and developmental stages. 

Not to mention, KiwiCo aligns perfectly with the principles of play-based learning! Here are a few ways that KiwiCo integrates play-based learning into their products: 

• It’s hands-on learning.: KiwiCo encourages kids to roll up their sleeves and dive into hands-on projects. Your child will kinesthetically experience science, art, or geography with expertly crafted crates of projects. Whether your child is building a robot or designing their own art project, they’re learning by doing. 
• It’s got variety for all ages.: From toddlers to teenagers, there are products for every stage of development. KiwiCo offers a range of clubs, labs, and crates designed to grow with your child, with age-appropriate challenges and categorized difficulty for each project. 
• It encourages problem-solving.: KiwiCo is designed to challenge kids, but in a fun and engaging way. As they work through a project, they’ll encounter challenges that require persistence, resilience, and creative thinking.

How to Sign Up for KiwiCo

Ready to sign up for KiwiCo? It’s simple, just click here to gain access to all that KiwiCo has to offer! Once you click on the offer link, receive 50% off for the first month of your subscription crate! 

Are you already a KiwiCo patron? Well, KiwiCo has revamped its offerings with five exciting clubs for kids of all ages. It is more than just a monthly project—KiwiCo is now a learning series! 

Releasing this month are the following KiwiCo Clubs:

• KiwiCo Panda Crate: Baby & Toddler (ages 0-3+)
• KiwiCo Sprout: Earling Learning & Pretend Play (ages 3-6+)
• Kiwi Labs: Science and Engineering (ages 6+)
• KiwiCo Studio: Art & Design (ages 6+)
• KiwiCo World: Geography & Culture (ages 6+)

Membership to any of the clubs comes at a simplified $30/month price point. Each crate builds on the last, helping your child develop new skills through fun, hands-on activities. Sign up is easy, and with free U.S. shipping, discounts, and exclusive content, KiwiCo makes learning exciting and rewarding!

Final Thoughts 

If you’re on the market for some excellent play-based learning products, be sure to subscribe to one of the newly released KiwiCo Clubs. The innovative creates in each learning series are the perfect way to bring play-based learning into your home. 

Remember, the next time you see your child building a fort, pretending to be a superhero or a princess, throwing a tea party with some stuffed animals, or getting that doctor kit out, remember that they’re not just having fun—they’re actually learning valuable life skills that will help them grow into confident, capable adults. 

Hint: Want to help your child grow smarter, faster, and stronger? Play with them!