A Guide to English Play-Based Learning

Most of the people have fond memories of elementary school. Playing along with your friends on the playground, dominating at tetherball, or gossiping and giggling on the monkey bars. Those are the fun experiences we recall about.

Nowadays, we pay attention to common core standards and getting students prepared for higher education. Gone are the carefree days of elementary faculty, as teachers and parents push kids to excel to even better mastering requirements.

In this post, we will explore the importance of learning through play, the teacher’s role in play-based learning, how parents can help their children with language development, some examples, and more.

As a primary educator of your kids, it is your responsibility to encourage your children to develop an interest in their studies. One thing you can do is facilitate English learning through play. 

Are you ready? Let’s go!

What Do You Mean By Learning Through Play?

Studying through play isn’t always merely a child’s hobby but a profound educational tool that fosters cognitive development and vital skills. It’s a dynamic method that transcends the bounds of age, providing a superb impact on kids from primary schools to secondary settings.

The power of play in constructing executive functions is more than a principle; it’s a scientifically backed technique that encourages children to recognise a hobby, work via challenges, and engage in a getting-to-know manner that leads to more profound knowledge.

In the realm of education, play-based activities aren’t constrained to building bricks or easy games. They’re intricate designs that enhance language competencies, stimulate creative abilities, and offer a platform for kids to connect, speak, and form.

One of the compelling examples is the integration of English learning with fun activities. By means of weaving playful experiences into studying and writing, educators can create exciting and interactive surroundings that resonate with each toddler. Whether or not it’s a physical pastime in a primary place or a complicated problem-solving game in a secondary classroom, the essence stays similar: Play is a necessary part of the learning journey.

Why Is It Important To Make Learning Fun For Kids?

Playing plays a major part in a kid’s early development. Playing is crucial for younger children’s brain improvement, conversation skills and language acquisition. Simple games, which include shaking a rattle or peek-a-boo, are a whole lot more meaningful than only a manner to please the kids. They strengthen young children’s motor capabilities, communication and problem-solving capabilities.

Play-based studying supports learning in a developmentally suitable way. It lets all children take part, irrespective of how quickly they study. Youngsters take control of their studying with some encouragement from the instructor, primarily based on the available materials. 

The power of playful English learning helps kids in many undivided segments of improvement. It may assist them in learning classroom concepts. However, it also facilitates their personal vocabulary, problem-solving skills, crucial questioning and socialization.

Some of the benefits of learning through play include:

• Creativity

Playing openly while learning will help your kid to be creative. This depends on how they interact with things. If they show interest, they will develop a strong understanding of things and the environment.

• Vocabulary

Kids increase their vocabulary as they interact with new matters. They’ll research new words from their peers as they play. Instructors can broaden their vocabulary by way of speaking with kids about what they’re doing and presenting them with words for different things. Introduce new phrases associated with what the child is playing or ask questions that encourage your kids to talk.

• Concentration 

While children get to pick out what they do, they’re more likely to reveal a hobby and stick with it. They get extra from the amusement because they’re actively engaged and targeted.

• Problem-Solving

Play regularly affords situations that call for problem-solving talents. They may need to figure out a way to do something or to work together with friends. At some stage in dramatic play, they need to determine which roles to take and how those roles interact, for example.

• Social Skills

The free-play layout encourages kids to engage with each other, which allows building social abilities. They learn how to communicate thoughts and cooperate. Social skills are essential now, not only inside the study room but also in life.

• Independence

Kids are responsible for their moves. Rather than relying on an instructor to inform them precisely what to do, children act independently as they explore the play alternatives.

• Confidence

All youngsters can play regardless of their background know-how or ability level. They discover success in the classroom with play-based learning. The success to make English learning fun for children can build self-confidence that can make school appear less intimidating.

• Active Learning

While children play, they’re actively engaged. Being mentally active facilitates children to peek better than they do when they’re learning passively.

• Physical Development

Play calls for motion. Kids use great motor abilities to control small toys and gross motor capabilities when they run around and play actively. The more they practice both motor skills, the quicker they expand their skills.

Teacher’s Role In Play-Based Learning

The teacher chooses the materials and plays items strategically to enhance certain principles. For example, if preschoolers are learning about groups in a Social Studies class, the teacher may get dress-up clothes for different people in a community. It can be law enforcement officials, garbage collectors, firefighters or chefs.

• Different items might encompass a playset that looks like a town, homes made from cardboard boxes, signs for specific companies discovered in a network and menus from nearby eating places. Those items inspire kids to discover the idea of a community of their approaches as they select a way to play with the items.

• Another role of the instructor is encouraging exploration. If a toddler is dressed up as a police officer and pretends to help someone, the teacher might comment on how cops assist the community to enhance the idea. Teachers can also ask questions to inspire youngsters to consider the standards. 

However, the teacher shouldn’t manualize the pastime or try to change how the youngsters play with the objects. A crucial thing about the power of playful English learning is getting to know the kids and letting them take the lead. Finding that stability between studying and gently pushing children toward coming across matters on their own is frequently the most challenging part of play-based learning.

How Can Parents Help Their Child’s Language Development Through Play?

As children mature, they acquire new skills. Their method of play also varies and becomes more complex and diverse. From playing with rattles when they were babies to role-playing activities during preschool, these activities play an essential part in your children’s lives. Most of the time, they want their parents or other caregivers to join them in these activities. You are encouraged to participate in these bonding activities, as you will also be instrumental in helping them enhance and expand their linguistic abilities.

Observe and Follow 

Children’s level of interest can often determine their engagement in any activity. It is, therefore, essential to observe and follow their lead. Note where their interest lies and try to create play activities to hold their interest. Incorporate English learning into play time, and it’ll genuinely work. The more engaged they are in an activity, the more excellent the opportunity for language acquisition.

Practise Taking Turns

Turn-taking is an essential social skill your children must develop as they grow. This promotes better communication with others and might serve as a bridge towards building friendships. You can help establish a turn-taking routine by providing brief pauses after each turn during play activities. You can also try storytelling activities where each of you takes turns reading.

Be A Role Model

Playtime is an excellent opportunity for children to attach meaning to words and build vocabulary. By modelling language, you expose your children to new words, correct grammar, and proper pronunciation. You can help expand their vocabulary by:

• Make a comment on what you or your child is doing, e.g. “That is a lovely drawing!”
• Introducing synonyms and antonyms, e.g. Big and Large or Before and After
• Add a word to your child’s phrases, e.g., “Mum, look at that whale!” “Yes, that is an enormous whale!”
• Modelling correct sentence structure, e.g. “I saw Aunt Grace yesterday” or “Oh, you saw Aunt Grace yesterday?”

Repeat, Repeat, Repeat 

Allow opportunities for repetition, as this helps children to master skills in different areas of development. It may seem boring or unproductive to adults to repeat the same activity, but for children, doing an activity repeatedly will help them refine and stabilise their skills. 

It is imperative to encourage repeating routines, actions, and words, especially those they enjoy, as this contributes to vocabulary building and expressive language. Repeatedly singing the same songs, for instance, is also suitable for memory retention, teaching new concepts and improving sentence structure.

Read Books Together 

Reading facilitates English learning with fun activities, opens up a whole world of learning, and improves speech, language and memory skills. By exposing your children to various books, you can check which ones capture their interest more and let this guide you in procuring books that hold their attention. Start with simple books, perhaps with short texts and pictures, and then progress to more challenging ones as your children’s reading skills improve. 

Instances of Games and Playtime Activities That Integrate Language Learning

Games offer a relaxed environment where your child can practice using new words and openly express themselves. Participating in recreational activities is an effective way to develop language and communication skills. It also helps your children to be more socially confident and maybe a way to forge friendships. Here are some examples:

• Word Games

Expand your children’s vocabulary with word games. It can be as simple as pointing out items at home or during a road trip, e.g. “I am now mixing the butter into the batter” or “Tall buildings are also called skyscrapers”. You might even give the definition or share background information about these words. Games like Scrabble, Pictionary or a round of Charades encourage vocabulary development and communication skills. 

• Jokes

Telling age-appropriate puns will also help foster good humour and creativity in children. This also encourages wordplay and imagination. You can read through kid-friendly joke books and take turns telling witty stories. Avoid being too critical of their gags, speech, or articulation. Instead, model proper pronunciation or grammar by repeating the statement back to them in the correct way.

• Riddles

Riddles are fun ways to facilitate English learning through play. Use words and paint pictures of scenes or situations. Read or say riddles aloud to each other and explain to your children the different definitions of a single word. 

• Rhymes

The repetitive chanting, reading, writing, or hearing of rhymes promotes good listening skills and memory retention, aside from developing speech. You can also narrate what you do at home with rhyming words or let your children tell you about their favourite toys using rhyming words.

• Story Telling

While storybooks provide ample entertainment, sharing real or make-believe stories can offer a good bonding time with your children while helping develop their communication skills. Exchange stories about daily events. Broaden their imagination with fantastical stories and let their creativity grow as they make up stories about anything and everything around them.

• Tongue Twisters

Tongue twisters are an excellent and fun way to make English learning fun for children and teach them correct pronunciation and enunciation of words. It is a fun way to train their tongue to pronounce words. Start with simple ones and work your way up.

If you are curious about ways to engage students in the class. Here are some tips for engaging students in the ESL classroom.

Wrap Up

When it comes to English learning with fun activities, you should pay attention to what your child does. Besides, teachers and parents equally play an important role in enhancing language skills among kids. Whatever you teach them, they’ll steadily grasp. So, it is your responsibility to guide children on the right track and help them succeed. Good luck!!