At The Gardner School, we understand that playful learning is a powerful teaching tool. Through play, children can explore at their own pace while also developing key skills to become happy and successful lifelong learners. Both free play and guided play are part of our preschool curriculum, and students play in a variety of forms that go beyond the playground. Our experienced teachers and staff play a crucial role in creating spaces where preschoolers can master critical skills. Read on for a closer look at how we incorporate play throughout the day at TGS.
Free Play and Guided Play
Play-based learning is one of the most natural ways for children to learn and explore new things. There are two primary categories of play-based learning: free play and guided play.
Free play is self-directed and unstructured. It encourages children to use their imagination.
Guided play allows teachers to focus children’s play around specific learning goals. Teachers offer support and ask open-ended questions that guide the next level of child-directed exploration. Teachers may subtly introduce concepts related to various topics, from learning science and math to identifying rhyming words in literacy activities.
Benefits of Free Play
Free play allows children to lead the activity without rules, which helps develop their creativity, initiative, confidence, and leadership. You’ve no doubt seen your child and many others engaged in imaginative play involving dress-up, playing with puppets, building with LEGOs, exploring sensory bins, and climbing on playground equipment. During free play, children may make up games, scenarios, or even entire worlds! This type of play encourages healthy brain development and builds social connections.
What can look like “pure fun” to adults is actually a complex process of brain development. You can learn more about the developmental skills that play build in this blog. The power of free play is tremendous. It can help children:
- Improves problem-solving
- Enhances language development
- Encourages independence
- Improves social skills and communication skills
Benefits of Guided Play
Research shows that guided play is also a powerful tool for early learning. When children are in control of their learning experience, they gain confidence. With guidance and support from a caring teacher, they feel safe to explore and try new things. This combination of freedom, guidance, and support helps children develop a love for learning. Developing curiosity and a sense of adventure around learning will enhance your child’s experience in elementary school.
Some examples of guided play include:
- Molding playdough into different letters or numbers
- Sticking numbers on a magnetic board in order from one to ten
- Playing with foam or wooden shapes
- Taking nature walks outside
- Exploring sensory bins and boxes
At The Gardner School, free play and guided play are an essential part of our daily schedule.
Our classroom learning centers are a great example of structured play, as students get to choose from a variety of stations, including home living, block center, puzzles, cutting with safety scissors, reading, and more.
There is a balance between play and more structured learning. We’ve created this blog to help you strike a balance and support your child in their learning journey outside of TGS.
A Preschool That Prioritizes Play
Every child has different needs, so it is important to make your preschool choice based on what is best for the child and your family. The Gardner School combines a variety of approaches to help meet children where they are. To learn more about The Gardner School’s approach or to see it for yourself, contact us today to schedule a tour.