THE JUNIOR JOURNAL: VOLUME V Monthly E- Newsletter for Salwan Junior School (September 2025)

The Power of Play: Building Foundations for Lifelong Learning

“Play is really the work of childhood.” – Fred Rogers

In our fast-paced, achievement-driven world, it is easy to dismiss play as a frivolous pastime or a distraction from “real” learning. Yet, decades of research and countless classroom experiences confirm that play is not only natural to children—it is essential for their growth. For both parents and teachers, understanding the power of play helps us create environments where children thrive, academically and emotionally.

Why Play Matters ?

Play is more than fun and games. It is the foundation upon which children develop the skills they will use throughout their lives. Every block stacked, every role-play enacted, and every outdoor chase strengthens not just muscles but minds, hearts, and spirits.

Through play, children:

Build cognitive skills – Sorting, matching, building, and experimenting teach logic, reasoning, and problem-solving.

Develop social-emotional learning – Negotiating rules, sharing roles, and resolving conflicts build empathy, cooperation, and resilience.

Enhance language and communication – Storytelling, pretend play, and singing expand vocabulary and confidence in expression.

Strengthen physical development – Running, jumping, balancing, and dancing enhance motor skills and body coordination.

Play also nurtures curiosity and imagination, qualities that fuel lifelong learning. As play researcher O. Fred Donaldson noted, “Children learn as they play. Most importantly, in play children learn how to learn.”

Play in the Classroom: Learning by Doing

In progressive early years classrooms, play is woven into the daily fabric of learning. Teachers set up engaging environments—sand trays, art corners, building blocks, dramatic play areas, or nature tables—that invite children to explore at their own pace.

Examples include:

Rope Walk – A simple rope on the floor becomes a tightrope, teaching balance, concentration, and perseverance.

Story Circles – Group storytelling with prompts develops imagination, sequencing, and oral language skills.

Guess My Smell – Blindfolded children identify scents, activating sensory awareness and descriptive language.

Nature Hunts – Searching for “something rough, something green, and something that makes a sound” fosters observation, classification, and wonder.

The teacher’s role shifts from “instructor” to “facilitator.” By observing, guiding, and gently challenging children, teachers allow curiosity to blossom into understanding. Mistakes—a fallen block tower or a melted crayon—become learning opportunities that teach resilience and flexible thinking.

Play at Home: Parents as Partners

The magic of play-based learning is not limited to schools. Homes can be equally powerful learning spaces when parents embrace play as part of daily routines. Importantly, the activities need not be elaborate or resource-heavy—everyday household items can become tools of exploration.

Some simple yet impactful ideas:

Sorting and Matching – Organizing socks, buttons, or utensils by size or color builds early math skills.

Story Cube Creations – Using dice with pictures to create stories together enhances creativity and language growth.

Kitchen Science – Mixing flour, water, and food colours sparks curiosity about cause and effect.

Musical Freeze – Dancing and freezing with music fosters listening skills and self-control.

Footprint Trails – Cardboard footprints placed around the house encourage movement, coordination, and counting.

The key is not the sophistication of the activity, but the joy, engagement, and interaction it allows. Parents need not direct play constantly; often, the most valuable gift is stepping back, observing, and joining in as a co-learner.

Shared Responsibility: Parents and Teachers Together

Both home and school environments play a vital role in a child’s development. When parents and teachers work together, children experience consistency and reinforcement across contexts.

For Teachers – The challenge lies in creating rich, inclusive environments where play leads learning and children are encouraged to explore, lead, and collaborate.

For Parents – The opportunity lies in validating play as meaningful learning, supporting children’s curiosity at home, and celebrating effort rather than only results.

By bridging these worlds, we provide children with a safe, stimulating, and supportive ecosystem that nurtures both confidence and competence.

What Research Tells Us ?

Inclusive Play: Every Child Belongs

Play is most powerful when it is inclusive. Children of different abilities, backgrounds, and temperaments should be able to participate, learn, and thrive together. Inclusive play breaks barriers, builds empathy, and creates a sense of belonging.

Examples of inclusive play activities:

• Parachute Games – A large shared parachute allows children with varying motor abilities to participate equally in lifting, shaking, and running under it.

• Sensory Bins – Water, sand, or rice tubs with scoops and cups engage both neurotypical children and those with sensory processing needs.

• Collaborative Art Walls – A large sheet of paper where children can paint, draw, or stick cut-outs at their own level and pace.

• Buddy Play – Pairing older or more confident children with peers who need extra support encourages cooperation and empathy.

Such activities ensure that no child feels left out, reinforcing the belief that play is a universal language of childhood.

Structured vs. Free Play: The Right Balance

Both structured play (organized and guided by adults) and free play (child-led, open-ended) serve unique purposes in development.

• Structured Play: Board games, puzzles, or organized sports teach rules, cooperation, goal-setting, and persistence. They also support specific learning objectives, such as early math through number games.

• Free Play: Building forts, pretend kitchens, or spontaneous role-play with friends nurtures imagination, creativity, decision-making, and independence.

A healthy mix of both allows children to build discipline while still having space to explore freely. Teachers and parents can ensure daily routines include opportunities for both forms.

From Screens to Playgrounds: Breaking the Digital Spell

Many children today gravitate towards screens, making it harder for them to embrace physical or imaginative play. The shift requires patience, creativity, and consistency.

Strategies that work:

• Small Steps – Begin with short, enjoyable outdoor activities (10–15 minutes) and gradually increase time.

• Link Digital to Physical – If a child loves superheroes online, encourage them to dress up and act out superhero adventures in the garden or living room.

• Play Together – Children are more likely to enjoy play if parents or peers actively participate—family games, races, or dance-offs can make the transition fun.

• Create Screen-Free Zones – Designate spaces (like dining areas or bedrooms) where play, conversation, and creativity replace digital distractions.

• Reward with Play – Instead of screen time as a reward, celebrate achievements with outdoor time, new play materials, or a trip to the park.

Gradually, children learn to find joy in movement, exploration, and face-to-face interaction, which supports healthier physical, social, and emotional development.

Recent studies highlight that experiential, hands-on play enhances engagement and motivation—two critical drivers of effective learning. Play builds executive function skills such as planning, focus, and self-regulation, all of which predict later success in academics and life.

Child development expert Kay Redfield Jamison reminds us:

“Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity.”

By embedding play into daily life—at home, in school, and beyond—we ensure children are not just prepared for tests, but prepared for life.

Embracing Play, Empowering Growth

As educators and parents, our responsibility is to reframe play not as a reward for hard work, but as hard work itself—the serious business of childhood. Whether in classrooms or kitchens, playgrounds or living rooms, play is where curiosity sparks, resilience is tested, and lifelong skills are born.

By honouring the role of play, we give children a priceless gift: the freedom to explore, the courage to fail, and the confidence to grow into joyful, capable learners who are ready to shape their own future.

Article by-

By Sarita Dahiya

Faculty Salwan Junior School