Approaches - Early Childhood Education

As the new school year begins. Many families are deciding where to enroll their cild in preschool. preschools offer various approaches to early education, all promoting the benefit of their particular programs.

One approach gaining momentum in the early years of preschool curriculum is play-based learning. Research shows play-based learning enhances developmental learning outcomes. It can also set your child up for success by teaching them relevant skills.

What is play-based learning?

Children are naturally motivated to play. A play based program builds on this motivation, using play as a context for learning. In this context, children can explore, experiment, discover and solve problems in imaginative and playful ways.

A play-based approach involves both child-initiated and teacher-supported learning. the teacher encourages children's learning and inquiry through interactions that aim to stretch their thinking to higher levels.

For example, while children are playing with blocks, a teacher can pose questions that encourage problem solving, prediction and hypothesis. The teacher can also bring the child's awareness towards mathematics, science and literacy concepts, allowing them to engage with such concepts through hands-on learning.

While further evidence is needed on cause and effect relationships between play and learning, research findings generally support the value of good quality play-based early year programs.

research has shown the long-term benefits of high-quality play-based kindergarten programs, where children are exposed to learning and problem solving through self- initiated activities and teacher guidance.

In contrast to play-based learning are teacher- centred approaches focused on instructing young children in basic academic skills. Although this more structured teaching and learning style is the traditional approach to primary school programs, research is emerging that play-based learning is more effective in preschool and primary school programs. In these recent studies, children's ;earning outcomes are shown to be higher in a play-based program compared to children's learning outcomes in direct-instruction approaches.

Research has also identified young children in direct-instruction programs can experience negative effects. These include stress, decreased motivated for learning, and behaviour problems. This is particularly so for children who are not yet ready for more formal academic instruction.

what can be gained through play-based programs?

As with traditional approaches, play-based early years programs are focused on teaching and learning. In such programs, play can be in the form of free play (activity that is spontaneous and directed by the child), and guided play (also child-directed, but the teacher is involved in the activity as a co-player) with intention teaching. Both have benefits for children's learning. To capitalise on these benefits, an optimum play-based program will provide opportunities for both free play and guided play.