Why Playtime And Learning Go Hand-In-Hand

A recent NBC article I read mentioned that play is making a comeback in kindergarten — which, in my opinion, calls for a celebration. I recently wrote about how I wish there was more play in all the elementary grades, so this is an encouraging sign.

When parents hear the word "play," they might think their kids are messing around and wasting time. But the funny thing is, play is actually how kids learn.

Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, who is an author, professor of psychology at Temple University and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, has studied child development and the role of play in learning. In the NBC piece, she confirms,“Play is not divorced of learning. It is the natural way in which we learn.”

The article goes on to explain the importance of play. “Experts say children shouldn’t be sitting at desks, completing worksheets or listening to teachers talk for the majority of the time. An older, more extensive body of research suggests children should be playing both within lessons and between lessons, because that’s the best way for a 5-year-old to grasp difficult concepts, whether it’s working with a classmate or counting to 100.”

Related: How To Make Playtime More Educational For Your Children

My mother-in-law, Ellen Fisher Turk, is a master at play with our boy and is the best sitter, too. She also works as a play therapist for kids and says that “children use their play to work through their concerns, fears, anger and dreams.”

My son can also play with my husband for hours. They pretend they are superheroes, tell long fantasy stories with their figurines and build Lego empires together. When I walk into the room and try to pretend I'm Superwoman or a princess, they look at me like I have three heads. In any case, play is second nature to my boy (and apparently to my husband, too).

Mom Jenni Mahnaz, who is a home-schooling consultant, says, "It's important that kids learn through play because that's what comes naturally to them. When we eliminate play, we are working against their nature."

She explains further, "Play is the work of children. They use it to explore, discover and work through the things they are taking in from the world around them. They learn through play the same way grown-ups learn through discussion, reading or the news. It's the medium through which information becomes accessible and digestible to them."

Other parents give examples of the different ways their children have learned through play:

Stay Out of Their Way

Recently, Mahnaz's 4-year-old came out of her room and announced that she'd spelled a word. "My daughter showed me a piece of paper and, sure enough, she spelled 'mom.' She's had zero instruction, no flashcards, no lessons on holding a pencil or forming letters. She used her playtime to play with letters, books, sounds and pencils — and on that day, it clicked for her on that one word."

From Pretend to Science

For mom Jackie, a bit of playtime led to an in-depth scientific discussion with her children. She says, "My kids were playing pretend earlier today, and my 8-year-old remarked that he wished he could stand on clouds. It ended up leading to a really robust science discussion about atoms, molecules, density, the way molecules vibrate faster when you add heat and the physics of why you can't stand on a cloud."

Learning Organically

Mom Rachel says, "My husband and I are huge believers in finding these opportunities to teach and learn lessons that are born organically from daily living and playing. An unexpected snowfall might lead to making a snowman, which might lead to wondering, 'Why is snow white?' or, 'Why is some snow stickier than others?' Then we will watch a cool online video or article to learn the answer."

Games and Puzzles

Mom Deborah has some puzzles with math and some with words for her children. "My 3-year-old just matches them for now, but I do think they help a lot," she says. "We are also big into board games and have a few toddler-specific ones. Some may not consider this play, but I let her help me cook, and we juice and make smoothies: math, science, reading and art are all used."

Related: The Toys, Games And Fort-Building Essentials Every Kid Needs

There's no doubt that play is an important part of our kids' worlds, and it's also the best way to get them to learn and grow. Hopefully, one day, more elementary schools will recognize this, too. Until then, continue that play at home — even if that means your husband has taken over your living room with your child to channel Captain Hook and Batman for hours!

Other Parenting News:

• Do Elementary Schools Incorporate Enough Playtime Into The Day?
• Parent Or Friend: Is It Possible To Be Both To Your Child?
• Routine Versus No Routine: What's Better For Your Children?