09/15/2026
Tips Tuesday: The Benefits of Play-Based Learning
Did you know that some of the most respected early childhood approaches, including Montessori and Reggio Emilia, are rooted in learning through hands-on exploration and play? Young children learn best when they are actively engaged, curious, and having fun!
Research shows that children develop important skills through play, including:
-Creativity and problem-solving
-Language and communication skills
-Social and emotional development
-Critical thinking and independence
- Fine and gross motor skills
While worksheets and memorization can have a place as children get older, expecting young children to learn primarily through worksheets and rote memorization is not developmentally appropriate. Preschoolers learn best by touching, exploring, creating, pretending, asking questions, and interacting with the world around them.
Play-Based Learning Ideas for Home: • Build a fort and read books together inside. • Create an obstacle course using pillows and household items. • Let your child help cook and measure ingredients. • Have a nature scavenger hunt in your backyard or neighborhood. • Encourage dramatic play with dress-up clothes or stuffed animals. • Build with blocks, LEGOs, or recycled materials. • Create art using paint, crayons, chalk, or natural materials.
Remember, when children are playing, they are learning! Every tower they build, story they imagine, and game they invent is helping them develop skills that will support their future success in school and beyond.
At Cadence Academy Faith-Based Preschool, we believe learning should be engaging, meaningful, and joyful. Through play, children develop a love for learning that lasts a lifetime!
