Play in early childhood education

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Play in early childhood education

HomeEarly childhood education resourcesPlay in early childhood education

Topic summary

Play pedagogies offer children opportunities to learn in developmentally appropriate ways, and are associated with a range of positive personal, academic and social outcomes.

Play is a complex and dynamic activity that can support learning in multiple ways. Different kinds of play offer different possibilities for learning, and vary in the levels of agency, power and control accrued to children. As a result, play pedagogies require a detailed understanding of different play types and how they support learning. The use of a continuum of free play, guided play and teacher-directed play is recommended in order to effectively meet children’s learning needs.

Play pedagogies are found to have positive benefits for children in terms of enhancing well-being,  academic and cognitive performance, social and emotional skills, and opportunities for physical movement. Play is most clearly linked to the development of learning dispositions, social competencies and self-regulatory executive function skills (such as controlling attention and flexibly redirecting behaviour).

The many dimensions of play and skills involved in play make it difficult to determine the precise influence of play on learning. While a large number of studies demonstrate the importance of play for learning and development, research on play pedagogies is not able to conclusively determine whether play is a more effective form of learning than more traditional pedagogies.

The following strategies can support teachers in implementing play pedagogies:

  • Be clear about how play pedagogies can best support the desired learning in your setting
  • Structure play opportunities through careful planning of the environment
  • Intentionally plan to extend children’s self-directed play
  • Observe carefully and take care when determining how to intervene in play in order to support children’s autonomy
  • Teach and support play skills

  • Do you consider different play pedagogies when planning activities and interactions to reflect the priorities you have for children’s learning?
  • Have you explored the use of guided play and teacher-directed play in your setting?
  • What kinds of roles do you regularly take in children’s play and how do you determine which is appropriate in a given play scenario?
  • How do you stimulate children’s thinking and extend learning through your involvement in play?
  • What kinds of play, and teacher interventions in play, might best support children’s social development, language, creativity and thinking, or subject knowledge development?

Research reviews

Materials for play: Infants and toddlers

A short guide to using loose parts to enrich the play of infants and toddlers.

Materials for play: A short guide to selecting loose parts

How to choose loose parts to afford a wide range of possibilities for play and exploration.

Materials for play: Why open-ended loose parts are important

An overview of the research on loose parts and their known and theorised benefits, and how to inquire into and improve on your loose parts provision.

Outdoor play and why it’s important

An overview of the research on outdoor play and its many benefits and affordances for children’s learning, development and wellbeing.

How can I help children make the most out of outdoor play?

Strategies to help teachers in early childhood settings support and promote children’s outdoor play and make the most of the many affordances of outdoor play, risky play and play in natural settings.
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Webinars

Movement for learning: Q&A with Gill Connell

This webinar is a sequel to our 2021 webinar, exploring the role of movement in children’s learning and development, and how teachers can support children.

The importance of outdoor play in early childhood education

A discussion on the importance of outdoor play for children's development and how to design outdoor spaces.

Infographics

Play in early childhood education infographic

Discover the types of play, how they impact young children, and what roles teachers can take.

Snapshots

The power of outdoor play for children

Why outdoor play is so beneficial for children and how to incorporate risky play in early childhood education.
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