Wondering what the best type of preschool for your child is? Does a play-based curriculum give children the academic skills to succeed? Actually, studies show that play-based curriculum preschools teach more and better. Here are 3 benefits of play-based curriculum:
Play-Based Curriculum Expands Intelligence
Research shows that when children engage all of their senses in learning tasks, they increase their ability to learn. Play-based curriculum engages all senses in learning. For example, children may hear stories and sing songs about farm animals, then collaborate with others playing imaginary games. Afterward, teachers may have them practice storytelling by talking about what they've learned, or practice math concepts like making patterns using plastic farm animals.
Children in Play-Based Environments Learn Problem Solving
Learning to ask questions, guess at answers and test those answers through trial and error is at the heart of both scientific labs and a preschooler's play. Children in play-based schooling are constantly making choices and guesses. They then have the chance to test those guesses and discover how to solve problems. They might try to stack up some blocks with a friend to see how tall their tower can go before tumbling, or mix colors of paint to discover how to make green for painting a tree.
Play Allows Children to Learn Emotional Literacy
One of the best ways to predict school success is to measure impulse control. Learning to take turns, work with other people, and wait is fostered extraordinarily well during play. As children are building with blocks, playing in the sand, or creating a painting together, they will learn how to talk about what they are doing, share their materials, and read the emotions of others. Children need to know how to get along with other adults and children. They need to be able to negotiate, compromise and resolve conflicts.
Play-based curriculum allows children to learn the skills they need in a structured environment with the help and supervision of an experienced teacher who knows how to take interests and experiences and turn them into learning moments.