Source: Bring the Real World into the Classroom as a Teaching Strategy | Future Educators
Play-based teaching styles extend learning beyond the confines of the classroom, enabling children to make meaningful connections to the real world. Play provides a bridge between abstract concepts and concrete experiences, allowing children to understand and apply their knowledge in authentic contexts.
In play-based learning, children engage in role-playing scenarios that mimic real-life situations. They become doctors, chefs, shopkeepers, and community helpers, allowing them to explore different roles and responsibilities. Through these experiences, children develop a deeper understanding of the world around them, build cultural competence, and develop empathy for others.
Play-based teaching styles also promote the development of practical life skills. Children engage in activities that mirror daily routines, such as setting up a pretend grocery store, caring for dolls, or building structures. These experiences help them develop problem-solving skills, spatial awareness, and fine motor skills. They learn about concepts like measurement, money, and social interactions in a meaningful and relevant way.
Additionally, play-based learning encourages children to be curious and to explore their environment. They engage in sensory experiences, nature exploration, and scientific experiments. They develop an appreciation for the natural world, ask questions, and seek answers. Play-based teaching styles encourage children to be active participants in their own learning, fostering a lifelong love for exploration and discovery.
