At SPK, we used play-based learning to “immerse your child in a broad range of skills development, experiences and learning that not only help to equip them for school life – but for lifelong learning.” (Kathy Walker, Ready, Steady, Go pg 37)
Play-based learning is not the sort of play that your child does at home or with friends. It can look similar – but it has been planned and directed by our experienced and qualified educators to promote a range of learning and skill acquisition.
Depending on the age, abilities and interests of your child it is:
- Early literacy and numeracy (eg, counting out, sharing portions among friends, naming elements like colours or texture)
- Language/communication skills (eg, negotiating who gets to use the colour stones or scissors)
- Thinking skills (eg, should I do playdough first or painting, who else it at the table, what sort of tools do I need)
- Experimenting with fine motor skills, muscle control and hand-eye coordination
- Socialisation and working alongside others (eg, taking turns, responding to questions)
- Appropriate risk-taking (eg, what happens if I roll this out really really long?)
- Self-initiation (eg, what shall I make, asking for extra equipment to finish a task)
- Responding to routines and expectations (eg, replicating designs, helping to pack up)
- Creativity (eg, is it a cupcake/robot, what will this playdough cat do next)
Through one-on-one and group discussion, we can extend these learning experiences further – and hone in on areas where you child might benefit from further assistance. What would happen if you built another level? I can see a lot of colours here – what sort of colours can you see? Taking that crayon I was using has made me feel sad – can you see how I am feeling sad (pull sad face)? How else could we ask for the scissors?
It’s never just playdough.