Young children are naturally curious about the world around them. Through play, preschoolers can explore the mysteries of their surroundings while learning key language, social, math, science and thinking skills. As their teacher, it’s important you foster an environment where preschoolers can develop and learn as they participate in activities around the classroom. Here are tips for supporting your student’s learning through play:
1. Encourage Pretend Play
One of the ways a child learns is by imagining and doing. When preschoolers use toys to create possible scenarios or take on new roles, they are naturally seeing different situations from new perspectives. This thus builds children’s cognitive development while increasing their language and communication skills. To help spark your student’s imagination, try putting together a prop box with objects that will interest them.
2. Talk to Preschoolers About Their Play
When you talk to preschoolers about their play, you’re not only showing support for what they’re doing, you’re encouraging them to think about it in a new way. To further engage young learners, ask questions that help them think critically and reflect on their own learning. For example, “How many blocks would we need to make this structure taller than you?”
3. Make time for Guided Play
Guided play is a great opportunity for you to spend quality time with your students. Through this kind of play, you can get involved in what your students are doing by following their interests and responding to spontaneous learning opportunities as they arise.