Institute of Child Psychology’s Post

Yes, Your Children Are Learning Through Play. Here’s How... The very act of playing provides children the freedom to use their imagination and explore as they wish. Historically, free play and exploration were how children learned to solve problems, develop their own interests, and make connections with each other. As parents and caregivers, it can be tempting to underestimate the value of play. Through play, children are impacted in numerous ways, including: Problem-Solving: Divergent problem-solving, which means multiple solutions to a single challenge, is a critical skill for children—and one that’s often in direct opposition to worksheets or standardized tests. Divergent thinking and problem-solving can involve collaboration and exploration. Imagination: Pretend play fosters imagination and creativity, two critical skills for young people to develop. Playfulness and creativity often go hand-in-hand—and these skills can help build confidence, creative expression, and self-esteem. Physical Development: Physical activities have a direct impact on the entire body as well as the brain. When children play together physically, it has positive effects on their present and their future. Literacy, Math, and Scientific Skills: Through play, children develop math, literacy, and scientific skills—from running a pretend grocery store and doing the math, to playing with stuffed animals and learning different breeds of dogs. How are you encouraging play with your children? Play, learn and celebrate the 10 Commandments with the Squeeze Ten Commandments Game today! https://bit.ly/4djtUZx #Squeezetencommandments #lovethetenandlivethepromise

9 Things Every Parent Should Know About Play... 1. Children learn through their play. Don’t underestimate the value of play. Children learn and develop: cognitive skills – like math and problem solving in a pretend grocery store. physical abilities – like balancing blocks and running on the playground, new vocabulary – like the words they need to play with toy dinosaurs, social skills – like playing together in a pretend car wash and literacy skills – like creating a menu for a pretend restaurant. 2. Play is healthy. Play helps children grow strong and healthy. It also counteracts obesity issues facing many children today. 3. Play reduces stress. Play helps your children grow emotionally. It is joyful and provides an outlet for anxiety and stress. 4. Play is more than meets the eye. Play is simple and complex. There are many types of play: symbolic, sociodramatic, functional, and games with rules-–to name just a few. 5. Make time for play. As parents, you are the biggest supporters of your children’s learning. You can make sure they have as much time to play as possible during the day to promote cognitive, language, physical, social, and emotional development. 6. Play and learning go hand-in-hand. They are not separate activities. They are intertwined. Think about them as a science lecture with a lab. Play is the child’s lab. 7. Play outside. Remember your own outdoor experiences of building forts, playing on the beach, sledding in the winter, or playing with other children in the neighborhood. 8. Trust your own playful instincts. Remember as a child how play just came naturally? Give your children time for play and see all that they are capable of when given the opportunity. 9. Play is a child’s context for learning. Children practice and reinforce their learning in multiple areas during play. It gives them a place and a time for learning that cannot be achieved through completing a worksheet. For example, in playing restaurant, children write and draw menus, set prices, take orders, and make out checks. Play provides rich learning opportunities and leads to children’s success and self-esteem. Play, learn and celebrate the 10 Commandments with your children today! #Squeezetencommandments #lovethetenandlivethepromise

https://lnkd.in/gYt87GKw When children are playing with Loose Parts, they interpret these materials uniquely. Unlike adults, who view objects based on their intended purpose, children see them through the lens of affordances—the properties that define potential uses. American psychologist James J. Gibson noted that objects hold different values and meanings for each individual. For example, where an adult sees a brick wall as a boundary, a child might see it as a pathway, a place to stack rocks, or even a platform for jumping. By applying the affordances theory in early childhood education, we emphasize the function of spaces and objects—what children can do with them—over their form. This approach not only enhances creativity and play but also enriches the learning ecosystem, inspiring new ways of thinking and learning. I invite you to read the blog and share your thoughts. #loosepartsideas, #loosepartsexplorartion, #looseparts, #loosepartsplay, #loosepartsart, #earlylearning

Encouraging creativity and self-expression in young children is a key developmental skill to have at an early age.

Discover the transformative power of play in fostering cognitive and emotional growth in children. 🧠💖 This article breaks down the science and history behind play as a fundamental educational tool. A must-read for parents, educators, and psychologists! #ChildDevelopment #EducationalPlay #LearningThroughPlay #ChildPsychology https://lnkd.in/gxKJXyRp

This is long awaited great news! Our country needs guidance on dyslexia screening, thank you EarlyBird Education, Nadine Gaab, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative for making this possible!! #earlyscreening is needed for our children as we know through research that #earlyinterventions improve #studentsucess #earlyliteracy #sor #scienceofreading #edtalk #dyslexia #literacyforall #dyslexiaawareness #literacyassessments

Play is a Powerful Learning Tool for Young Children Did you know? Play is more than just fun—it's a key to learning! Encourage open-ended play with toys like blocks, dolls, or clay. These toys let kids use their imagination, think creatively, and solve problems. Playing without strict rules helps children: _*_ Explore new ideas _*_ Make independent decisions _*_ Develop cognitive and social skills Open-ended play isn't just play; it's a pathway to growth! Let your child discover, create, and learn with Terteeb’s tailored sessions. 📞 Contact us today to learn more about how we can support your child's development! #Terteeb #ChildDevelopment #LearningThroughPlay #EarlyEducation #CreativePlay #CognitiveSkills

Love this quote from a parent this morning. I am personally SO delighted that our educational board games are becoming so popular with children with dyslexia. The colourful designs, simplicity of the game and the fact that it's a PHYSICAL product really encourages a child to want to learn. We love the fact children are learning while having fun at the same time! Www.spikessightwords.com for more #spikessightwords #learnwithspike #learnenglish #learning #learntoread #learndifferently #dyslexicthinking #dysgraphia #dyslexic #dyslexiasupport #educationalboardgames #neurodivergent #education #read #literacy

I am SO proud to have invented such fun board games that both teachers, sencos AND their students love to learn with them. This week we have sent many packs out to schools around the UK which is super exciting. Learning common exception words are tricky for most children, that's why we've made learning fun and engaging. Take a look - www.spikessightwords.com Ideal for those with dyslexia #spikessightwords #learnwithspike #learnenglish #learning #learntoread #learndifferently #dyslexicthinking #dysgraphia #dyslexic #dyslexiasupport #educationalboardgames #neurodivergent #education #read #literacy

As Albert Einstein said' " Creativity is intelligence having fun" and is there more fun than play? 🧩🧠Playing with blocks is more than just fun—it's a crucial foundation for future learning and development. When children engage in block play, they are not only exercising their creativity and imagination but also honing a range of cognitive and physical skills.🪴🙂 1️⃣Firstly, manipulating blocks helps children develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination as they grasp, stack, and manipulate pieces. These actions require precision and control, laying the groundwork for later activities like writing and drawing. 2️⃣Secondly, block play fosters spatial awareness and understanding of concepts like shape, size, and proportion. As children experiment with different arrangements and structures, they begin to grasp fundamental principles of geometry and physics in an intuitive way. 3️⃣Building with blocks encourages problem-solving and critical thinking. Children learn through trial and error, figuring out how to balance blocks and create stable structures. This process boosts their confidence and resilience when faced with challenges. 4️⃣Socially, block play promotes communication and collaboration when children work together to build elaborate constructions. They negotiate roles, share ideas, and learn to cooperate—a vital skill set for navigating relationships and teamwork in the future. 🧠In essence, while playing with blocks may seem like simple playtime, it's actually a rich educational experience. It lays the groundwork for mathematical thinking, enhances motor skills, fosters creativity, and prepares children for academic and social success later in life. 🪴So, let them build, create, and imagine—the benefits of block play are building blocks for a bright future.🎉 #elfwa #developmentallyappropriatepractice #earlychildhood #earlychildhoodteachers #playmatters #learningthroughplay #mathsplay