In our home, we learn through play!
Saturday morning, 8 a.m.: Everyone is up, even though there’s no school.
Our kids could take this opportunity to sleep in and relax, but they prefer to wake up at the same time as usual to make the most of their day.
Most of the time, they play with their LEGO bricks or toy cars, draw, make up stories and superhero games, and generally let their imaginations run wild.
When they don’t have school, they’re allowed to do what they want, when they want. You’d be surprised at how much they learn!
How does play improve school learning?
I believe that games are essential for many reasons. For one, it allows them to have different experiences in a variety of contexts. Through play, children start to make connections between the different pieces of information they’ve learned.
Playing alone or with other children
In our house, much of the time we spend as a family is dedicated to self-directed play. Whether our kids are alone or hanging out together, we encourage game time. It gives the adults time to complete daily chores, but also allows the kids to try out different activities, figure out what they like, use their imaginations, resolve brotherly conflicts, and more.
Whether they’re playing with toy cars or dolls, drawing or inventing stories, or simply kicking around a ball, they’re having experiences that require all sorts of knowledge and abilities.
Siblings can share learning tips or even teach each other.
For example, our middle son taught his three-year-old brother to count. I discovered his new skill while I was reading him a picture book. Each picture represented a number. To my surprise, as I was counting up, he joined in and made it all the way to 15!
When our children show us what they’ve accomplished, we’re often astonished by their progress. During playtime, you may notice that your child has a particular knack for writing, drawing, counting, or reading. When that happens, try to let them develop the ability on their own, at their own pace.
Playing as a family
Once we’ve finished our daily grown-up tasks and have some free time, we join our kids and play as a family. We enjoy board games because they’re generally calm and allow us to have a conversation. They’re an opportunity to observe our children’s different personality traits, watch how they react when they lose, and get a sense of their general knowledge. We also learn more about their interests and fascinations.
Sometimes, we even discover tricks that could help them during homework time.
For a child, playtime is serious.
I think it’s important for our kids to have time to play every day. It allows them to learn and apply their new knowledge in a relaxed, low-pressure environment. When they go back to school, some of these abilities and insights will prove useful, especially during hands-on activities.
I believe that in life, the most important thing is to love to learn—and learning through play is fun for kids and adults alike!