Play to learn.... how to???

LEARNING through play opens the child’s mind to what is in the environment. They discover how things are done and develop the understanding of right and wrong from playing.

Children thrive on simple yet meaningful play experiences.


Balls – Babies like holding soft balls while toddlers enjoy the rubbery ones that they can hold with both hands and throw. Preschoolers love playing ball-catching with their friends. As they grow and develop more skills, they start playing ball games with rules.

Blocks – They come in all sizes, shapes and colours. I still love the wooden ones that children can stack them up in a tall tower when they are just babies or toddlers. When they become preschoolers, they build bridges and houses of all types.

Cardboard boxes and containers – Babies like to repeatedly put objects into a container and then tip them out. Older children will explore ways to play with containers of all sizes and shapes.

Sand and water play – This is a self-directed and engaged learning for young children. Add fun things like food colouring, turkey baster, funnel, cups and plastic toys. Young children will be busy for a long time.

A walk – Children need outdoor play. They need to run and jump freely. They can discover interesting living organisms in their natural surroundings. This experience will truly spur them to greater heights of creativity and learning.

Scarves and bedsheets – They can throw the scarves up in the air and watch them float down to touch their faces. They can wave them around and do their special dances. My then preschool-age daughters would use a bedsheet as a parachute or pretend that it is a popcorn popper with balloons. As they grew older, they used bedsheets to create tents for their special hide-outs.

Mirror, mirror on the wall – Babies and toddlers like looking at mirrors to discover themselves and others. Preschoolers love making different or funny faces in front of the mirror. Put two mirrors in front and at the back of an object for your child to view. He can see the object from both sides. To add to your child’s learning fun, make a triangular box of mirrors for your child to put different objects in it (make sure you seal off the sharp sides).

Painting – Children like messy play. Finger-painting is a great start to working creatively with colours for young children. Use large pieces of paper and non-toxic paints.

Singing – Singing simple nursery rhymes with children can expand their imagination and help them develop phonemic awareness. They will also exercise their auditory memory skills.

Puzzles – Home-made or store-bought puzzles are educational and fun for children from late infancy to preschool age. Start with two pieces to pair up, working towards more pieces for the child to put together. The younger the child is, the larger the pieces.

Parents as children’s first play-partners provide both educational and entertaining fun.

There is no greater fun for a child than having his parents get down on the floor and spend some time, say about 15 minutes, to play with him without giving any suggestions or directions. Children who take the lead in play will gain much as they get to practise their skills and experiment safely with their new ideas. They feel confident when the adults let them plan and direct their play session together.