DEVELOPMENT IS KEY

What does learning through play look like?

All planned activities on lesson plans are adapted based on each child's needs and developmental abilities. Through developmentally appropriate practices, each child will be taught steadily, challenging them within their learning style and abilities. Planned activities include adding thematic toys and materials to the classroom to teach various skills. For example, That is one simple way that the l play-based activities are individualized within the group. 

Why does play-based learning best support development?

When thinking about development, I see it much like building blocks. Imagine three blocks that symbolize what a child can already do or knows and a fourth block that symbolizes what they cannot do or do not know. When a child has mastered stacking three blocks (what they can do and know) without having them fall, but have to take the fourth block (what they cannot do and do not know) and stack it on top without the tower tumbling down. With time and practice, a child can easily place the fourth block on the tower. With that in mind and using developmentally appropriate practices, I am not handing a child blocks 4 and 5 and saying stack them without falling down. I am giving them block 4 and helping them repeat placing block 4 until they master it and then work on block 5. 

Why should you choose a play-based program?

Think back to your childhood. What are some of your favorite memories? Mine? Playing with my siblings, making up elaborate games and learning about nature, the world around me, and about myself. We played, we got dirty, we laughed, we learned lessons about managing conflict, we made mistakes and we tried things over again, we learned that a plastic bag will float slowly to the ground while our bodies fell hard and fast from the same branch of the tree. I reflect fondly on the lessons learn through play. All of the things that children should be learning can be learned through play and can be fun.

Is my child really learning when they just play all day?

The short answer, yes. The long answer: when children are engaging in materials and conversations are organic children are presented with the skills and concepts that they should be learning. Can you kick the red ball really hard between the posts. if we stack 2 blocks and then stack two more blocks how many do we have, can you count them? What are the colors of the caterpillar, what are the colors of the butterfly? These are a few general examples of the conversations that take play during play. So are children learning through play? 

The answer is yes. 

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