Play-based learning is important throughout our lives if we wish to live a healthy and prosperous life. This is not some random made-up sentence that sounds inspiring. George Bernard Shaw, an Irish author, playwright, critic, political activist, and the recipient of the 1925 Nobel Prize in Literature once said
We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.
And was he right in so many ways! The importance of play is evident in each and every human being’s childhood (and even adulthood, at times). But what does constructive play truly mean and how does it help us, if at all?
All Work and No Play Makes Jack a Dull Boy
If we go by the dictionary definition, “to play” can be defined as “to engage in an activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose”. As much as the first part of this definition, i.e. ‘to engage in an activity for enjoyment and recreation’ is correct, many would now say that the latter half is absolutely not.
A considerable amount of research in the field of play-based learning is indicative of the profound importance of play on the overall development of a child. Playing helps the brain develope cognitive abilities, establish new neural connections, and make us more intelligent in multiple aspects at once. It improves the ability to perceive others’ emotional states and to adapt to ever-changing circumstances.
The famous play theorist Brian Sutton-Smith was a firm believer in the fact that play-based learning helps a lot in child development. According to him, playing helps children develop the neural connections and pathways which will be needed for advanced learning required at a later stage. It helps children learn how to learn through constructive play.
Children who play regularly with their peers are most likely to achieve the highest levels of adjustment as adults.
-Brian Sutton-Smith
According to a research study conducted in 2012, the benefits of play-based learning on healthy child development are numerous. For starters, it contributes to the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being of children. It states that learning through play enhances the progress of early development from 33% to 67% by increasing adjustment, improving language and reducing social and emotional problems. The same research quotes play therapist O. Fred Donaldson as well who claims that the children who have been allowed to develop play resources receive many enduring advantages. They develop a universal learning skill through constructive play. Play-based learning maximizes their potential by developing creativity and imagination. It promotes joy, which is essential for self-esteem and mental well-being. The learning process is self-sustained based as it is on a natural love of learning and playful engagement with life.
Children who completely miss out on the importance of play and do not play as required stay deprived of all these benefits. This deprivation shows visible effects in the later stages of their life. Apart from its very obvious effects on physical health, lack of understanding about the importance of play may also prevent children from reaching their full potential and developing their cognitive skills. An article written by Esther Etin for The Atlantic also stated that a decrease in constructive play also increases the possibility of anxiety and depression in children.
Find out more about how STEM and play-based learning complement each other HERE.
Psst. A little something before you leave!
If you would like to read more about STEM education and the modern world, go check out these blogs as well!
