Play-based Learning at Home

In this article, we share some ideas for you to create fun play-based learning at home experiences for your child through their early years.

From a child’s perspective, playing is all about having fun and exploring. But there’s so much more going on when babies and children play. Play is how they learn about themselves and their world and how they develop new understanding and skills.

This concept is foundational to our planning of environments, curriculum, and activities. In this article we share some ideas for how to support play-based learning at home.

Play-based Learning at Home for Babies (pre-walking)

Play ideas for newborns and babies to encourage development:

• Peekaboo is lots of fun and helps social and emotional development
• Introducing objects of different shapes, textures and colours develops motor skills – reaching and grasping
• Music and singing help develop hearing and movement
• Stable furniture, toys or boxes to encourage movement such as crawling and standing

Play-based Learning at Home for Toddlers

Play ideas to support your toddler’s learning and development:

• Throwing, catching and chasing balls to develop physical co-ordination
• Dress-up games to explore imagination and creativity
• Using sturdy furniture, boxes or pillows to practise climbing, balancing and rolling
• Music and dancing to encourage movement and physical discovery

Play-based Learning at Home for Pre-schoolers

Pre-schoolers often enjoy playing with others but there are plenty of ways for them to enjoy play-based learning whether or not they have company:

• Using empty boxes, old sheets and pillows to build and explore imaginary worlds
• Pretend play using their own imagination to role-play their favourite characters or their own imaginary creatures
• Creating their own obstacle course using boxes, furniture and cushions
• Simple food preparation or cooking activities (supervised)

We hope these tips will help you to support your child’s learning…