www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu • 1FS-1430September 2009BRIGHT BEGINNINGS #25Sean Brotherson, Ph.D.Family Science SpecialistNDSU Extension ServiceWhat do children learnfrom their play experiences?More than you might expect!Play opens the windows oflearning in a child’s life andacquaints him or her withmovement, observation,relationships, emotions andmuch more. Play time islearning time for young children.North Dakota State UniversityFargo, North Dakota 58108What Young ChildrenLearn Through PlayPlay Time asLearning TimeChildren love to play. They enjoytrucks, blocks, dolls, balls, dress-upclothes, puzzles and other toys.Play time provides children withopportunities for learning. In fact,play is really the most important waythat children learn about the worldaround them. Play helps children togrow and develop in many ways.At times, parents might worry thatchildren are “just playing” and notlearning things they need to learn.Structured guidance and teachingof young children is essential;however, parents and othercaregivers need to remember thatplay IS learning for young children.What are some things that childrenlearn in the process of play? Thispublication will help you to learnabout and explore that question.When Children... They Learn...Smile and coo at people How to engage others in interactionShake a rattle Their actions produce results; to distinguish soundsThrow toys on the floor Principles of gravity; cause and effectLook at picture books Pictures represent real objects; words label objectsRoll a ball How to gain control of muscles; round stuff rollsCuddle a stuffed animal To rely on their own ability to seek comfort;to nurtureBuild with blocks Concepts of size, weight, symmetry, numberand balance; muscle control and coordinationDress up and play house Small muscle, self-help skills; to recreate theirown worldPretend to be firefighters Social roles; to work with others; share materialsand communicate with other children2 • FS-1430 Bright Beginnings #25 – What Young Children Learn through Play• Provide sufficient time for play. Children need timeto explore an activity, make up a story or wrestlewith a playmate. They become frustrated if playis interrupted often or is cut short. Chewing onand exploring a new toy takes time as an infant.Fashioning a pyramid out of blocks takes time.Inventing a game with neighborhood childrentakes time. Parents should allow children to playin sufficiently large blocks of time for imaginationto develop and interactions to take place.• Arrange for variety in play experiences.Different kinds of play lead to different kinds oflearning experiences. Picture or story books helpwith concentration. Balls help develop coordinationand motor skills. Dress-up clothes provide forcreativity and social interaction. Often, givingchildren fewer toys of a wider variety is moreimportant than dozens of complicated toys.• Explore play with children. Children enjoy directingtheir own play much of the time but can benefit andgain ideas from a parent’s feedback or example.Play Time forParents and KidsIf play is so important in the livesof young children, parents andcare-givers need to write down“Play” on the daily schedule andmake sure it happens every day –right? Not exactly. Although playtime can be scheduled, parentsneed to remember that playoften needs to be:• Enjoyable• Spontaneous• Open-endedChildren learn things from playthat they can learn through no otherinteraction. Remembering that playtime should be just that – PLAY +TIME – is important for adults.What is MyChild Learning?What are children learning throughall of their play activities? Consider-ing the skills and qualities that a childmay develop through a variety ofplay activities is important. As youreview this material, take a momentto read and discover the importanceof what children learn througheach of the play examples provided.Next, using the “Parent ResponseBox,” list actions or activities youmight initiate as a parent to facilitatelearning related to the play example.For example, introduce a child to a new game suchas kickball or help him or her fashion a pyramidout of building blocks. Children will enjoy yourinvolvement and you can model play for them.Also, you can enjoy yourself!• Respond to a child’s invitation to play. Play withadults can help children develop as they learn tosing, play catch, listen to stories, create art workor engage in other play activities. Say “yes”when a child asks you to play with him or her.• Ensure that toys are safe. Safety should be a parent’sconcern. Adults should screen children’s toys andensure their safety by checking the toys often forbreaks, cracks, sharp edges or other potential concerns.• Help children have positive play interactions withothers. Parents can help children learn to have positiveplay interactions with other children. Assist childrento engage with each other and begin play experiences,provide guidance if needed and aid them in resolvingconcerns or disagreements if necessary.Here are a few tips that parents can remember to makeplay time for their young children more rich and meaningful:www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu • 3Parent Response Box – Activity Ideas• (Example: Play songs with different musical beatsand have children move to each rhythm.)• ________________________________________________________________________________________________• ________________________________________________________________________________________________• ________________________________________________________________________________________________Listening to Music and DancingParent Response Box – Activity Ideas• (Example: Draw pictures of different family memberswith your child.)• ________________________________________________________________________________________________• ________________________________________________________________________________________________• ________________________________________________________________________________________________Cutting and Gluing and Drawing PicturesMusic and DanceListening to music and dancing can be wonderful playexperiences for children. Most young children enjoy thisactivity immensely. These activities provide a wonderfulopportunity to talk about feelings (for example,“Does this song sound happy or sad?”) or concepts suchas opposites (for example, “Is the music fast or slow?”).A discussion about what you see or think when you hear