3 Play and learning

How does play impact student’s learning? Students learn in many ways. One of these ways is through play.  Play has the potential to support teaching and learning in a classroom context. It can be a motivating force in a student’s intellectual development (Laevers, 2000). Play also engages students in coming to terms with life and discovering themselves and their world (Brooker & Edwards, 2010; Nolan et al., 2006). Play-based programs provide a strong grounding for young children to develop as socially competent life-long learners, able to face challenges and create solutions (Robertson et al., 2018).

Read, look, or listen

Play the podcast (11:00) below. Consider the importance of play-based learning discussed by two education experts. Dr Louise Paatsch (Professor in Play-based Approaches, Teaching and Learning) and Dr Natalie Robertson (Associate Professor in Play-based Approaches, Teaching and Learning) talk together about the importance of play and learning.

Play within the classroom video podcast (11:40)

Engage and extend

Reflect on your childhood or experiences you have observed of children playing. Write down that memory of how play enriched the learning. To help you internalise your definition, we encourage you to voice your words and record yourself using the interactive audio below.