At Maltman’s Green, we recognise that play is a fundamental part of the early years education. While it may seem like simple fun, play is a powerful tool that helps our children develop essential cognitive, social, and physical skills. Our play-based early years curriculum is designed to combine the best of both worlds. Whether indoors or outdoors, structured or free, play offers children a wide range of learning opportunities, making it one of the most effective ways for them to grow.
How Play Supports Learning
- Fosters Creativity: Through imaginative play, children explore different roles, scenarios, and ideas. Whether they’re pretending to be superheroes or building a tower out of blocks, this kind of creative play encourages innovative thinking, which is a valuable skill for later learning.
- Develops Social Skills: When children play with others, they learn vital social skills like sharing, negotiating, and working together. These interactions help them understand concepts like empathy and cooperation, which are essential as they grow and integrate into group settings.
- Enhances Problem-Solving: Many play activities, such as puzzles or building games, require children to think critically and solve problems. Whether deciding how to build a stable structure or figuring out how to match shapes, these tasks improve cognitive abilities and resilience.
- Improves Motor Skills: Playtime often involves physical movement, helping toddlers develop their motor skills. Activities like running, climbing, or manipulating small objects help them build strength, coordination, and dexterity.
- Encourages Independence: Play allows children to take control of their own activities, fostering independence. This freedom to make decisions and try new things builds self-confidence and prepares them for more structured learning environments.
At Maltman’s Green located in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire we incorporate a balance of structured and free play into our Early Years curriculum to ensure pupils have plenty of opportunities to explore, create, and grow. Our top of the range facilities like our own woodland forest and our Olympic size swimming pool help to enhance all of these attributes for all our early years. Visit us on an open day to see how we nurture learning through play, or subscribe to our Baby Hub for more insights on early childhood development.
