Purposeful Play
To allow children to make meaning out of their experiences
What is it?
As an adult, have you ever wished that you could go back and relive your childhood, when things were simpler? As teachers, parents, grandparents, and family members of children, we can do just that! When we play with the children in our lives, we not only allow ourselves to see the world through the eyes of a child, but we can also create experiences that allow children to develop, learn, and grow.
I find it exciting to see the world through children's eyes... Children are naturally inquisitive, and the world is still magical. If we hone in on that and encourage purposeful play, full of exploration, we can truly benefit our children. What is purposeful play? Purposeful play allows children to make meaning out of seemingly everyday experiences. It is engaging and intentional. This type of play allows children to gather and process new information. It is critical for children’s imaginations, developing reading, language, math, and science skills, as well as problem solving and social skills. How can you make play meaningful and purposeful?
Check out these ideas:
Building Blocks = Think LEGOS!
When children build a structure using blocks, they improve gross motor skills. They also strengthen problem solving and cooperation skills.
To make building with blocks more challenging, have children build a tower to make a pattern.
Books
When children are read to, they learn about language and vocabulary. They learn how to express ideas and look at pictures for clues. Ultimately, children will learn valuable literacy skills needed for reading and writing.
How can you encourage a love of books? Simple, read to your child daily!
Dramatic Play = Playing Pretend
When children play house or school, learning is happening. In this environment, when playing with other age-mates, children learn about cooperative play, taking turns, sharing responsibilities, and problem solving. When children play a different part, they learn to walk in someone else’s shoes and see the world from a different viewpoint than their own, this develops the important skill of empathy.
Need ideas on how to set up a fantasy pretend play space?
Here are just a few:
Provide crates or boxes.
Old clothes, bags, or purses
Dolls and stuffed animals
Cooking utensils, plastic containers, pots and pans
Blankets or sheets to make forts
Music
Allowing children to listen to music, sing, and play with musical instruments, allows them to be creative and learn about emotional expression. When children dance to music they develop body awareness and movement.
The is not an exhaustive list of ideas for purposeful play, but just a few to spark intentional learning moments. When thinking of ways to enhance children’s learning, you do not need to drill children on skills to make concepts stick. Instead, look for teachable moments as children play and learn within their environment. Adults can enrich children’s learning by creating a rich learning environment, offering a variety of activities, and taking advantage of teachable moments.
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