Play Is Not the Opposite of Learning

Facilitating Growth Through Joyful, Meaningful Experiences

“They didn’t do anything, but play all day.” How many times have we heard parents and adults say this to reference what children do at school.Newsflash! Play is powerful! It’s not a break from learning. It is learning.

When children are playing, they’re experimenting, solving problems, practicing language, trying out social roles, and exploring their world. Play is how young children process, explore, and make sense of what they’re learning every day.

So… What Does Learning Through Play Actually Look Like?

In a play-based learning environment, the learning is embedded everywhere. It just might look a little different than the traditional idea of school. Instead of worksheets or long lectures, you might see:

• A child pretending to run a restaurant, taking orders and writing them down. In this case, children are engaging in dramatic play using materials and symbols to represent ideas, and practicing real-world scenarios that require literacy, numeracy, social-emotional learning, and executive functioning.

• Two kids working out a disagreement over a toy, learning communication and negotiation. Here, children are practicing self-regulation and communication skills, leading to deeper social-emotional development. The best thing about this is that is an authentic experience where they can practice their interpersonal skills and build emotional intelligence.

• A group building a ramp for their toy cars, testing angles and adjusting based on what they notice. In this inquiry-based learning example, there is STEM, collaboration & communication, and critical thinking involved. Children are building and adjusting based on personal observations and feedback from friends, developing early engineering and scientific thinking.

  
  

These experiences may seem simple, but they’re very complex ideas that lead to deep and meaningful learning!

What Children Are Learning Through Play

Play gives children the chance to:

• Use their imagination to create and problem-solve.

• Build language and communication skills.

• Practice fine motor and gross motor coordination.

• Develop empathy, cooperation, and independence.

• Explore math, science, literacy, and more in real-life ways.

It’s not just fun. It’s foundational learning.

Why Some Adults Worry About Play

Many of us grew up with the idea that real learning is serious. Quiet. Structured.So when we see children laughing, pretending, or moving around the classroom, it can feel like they’re not learning enough.

According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children, play leads to deeper, longer-lasting learning, most especially in the early years. Children remember what they experience with their hands, hearts, and minds all at once.

What Can Educators and Parents Do?

You don’t need expensive materials or complicated setups. The most important thing is creating time and space for meaningful exploration.

Here are simple and effective ways to do that:

• Asking open-ended questions like, “What do you think will happen next?” or “How did you come up with that idea?”

• Joining your child’s play to extend their thinking (“I noticed you sorted those blocks by color—can you think of another way to group them?”)

• Offering loose parts or everyday items for creative use (buttons, fabric, cardboard, etc.)

• Letting go of perfection. Messy play can be magical learning.

Let’s Redefine What Learning Looks Like

Play is not the opposite of learning. Play is the work of childhood. And it’s worthy of our respect.

So let’s create classrooms and homes where curiosity is encouraged, voices are heard, and children are free to wonder, explore, and grow.