“Play-based” is a common descriptor among today’s preschool programs, but what does that really mean?
The trend in education for many years has been to push standards on students at younger and younger ages. You’ve heard it said that “Kindergarten is the new first grade” and unfortunately for our kids, it’s true. Similarly, we’ve adapted to the idea that if kindergarten is the new first grade, preschool must be the new kindergarten. As a result, modern-day preschool programs have shifted to highly academic curriculums that neglect to support children in all areas of development.
Decades of research overwhelmingly shows that play—self-chosen, deep, engaging play—is the way that children learn best during the early childhood years. They do not need a teacher standing in front of them delivering information. They do not need flashcards, worksheets, and games designed to drill academic concepts. They need long, uninterrupted stretches of time to engage in play, under the guidance of a teacher who is keen to observe the learning taking place and understands how to support it with the right materials and the right kinds of questions.
This short video from Rowan University does a great job explaining the importance of play in the development of young children.
Students at Seed to Sprout will spend the majority of their day playing. Much of that time will be self-directed play, which is a time when they are learning so many of the vital social-emotional skills they will need throughout their lives. Children will have opportunities to engage with a variety of materials and discover ways to use them in interesting and unique ways. As a teacher/facilitator, I will use the power of observational assessment during these self-directed play periods to understand where support is needed and then provide it through guided-play.
To the untrained eye, all of this play might seem silly and wasteful, but it is the vehicle by which all of the most important things a preschooler will learn is delivered. Play is the work of the child!