Play is Serious Work!

As Mr. Rogers said, “. . . play is a way to cope with life and to prepare for adulthood. Playing is a way to solve problems and to express feelings. In fact, play is the real work of childhood." At Radcliffe Creek School, play-based learning can run the gamut from adult-guided play, such as learning games in and out of the classroom, to child-directed play, such as during recess or a sensory break in the Calm Cove. How does play help us learn? Research shows that while academic subjects like math and reading have cognitive bases, the feelings that we have about these subjects are driven by neurological systems that impact executive function including working memory, attention and impulse control. (Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education)

Neuroscience also is showing that certain characteristics of play such as joy, meaning, and engagement, activate neural networks associated with cognitive flexibility and stress regulation, and lay down foundations for future learning. Consensus has developed around the idea of “The Six Pillars of Play” that lead to learning opportunities. Penn State researchers recommend the following play practices:

Pillar One: Active Play  Active play can be as simple as counting by twos when giving out snack items. Adult-guided “what do you think would happen if” questions are also good for active play learning.

Pillar Two: Engaged Reducing distractions during play – such as background television noise – increase focus on play-based learning opportunities.

Pillar Three: Meaningful  If a child is interested in planets, for example, an adult can incorporate new vocabulary like “crater” or “asteroid” while engaging in sensory play, or make up a game about what to pack for space travel based on a planet’s characteristics.

Pillar Four: Socially interactive When an adult follows a child’s lead during play time, engaging back-and-forth play can provide opportunities to extend a child’s thinking.

Pillar Five: Iterative Making mistakes is okay during play, and we often learn from our mistakes. It’s okay to try things over and over until we get it right.

Pillar Six: Joyful When play incorporates something new or surprising, and when a child has a sense of agency, joyful play can help instill a love of learning.