As a recap in our first blog about play, play may be the most often misunderstood term in early learning. The reason for it relates to its many different forms and misunderstood nature in itself. We adults, educators and parents alike, often think of play either as something fun and unrelated to learning or as something to be used to teach a child. In this blog, we try to explore the different forms of play and what happens during them to better understand and also appreciate them.
Play could be divided into two basic categories:
Free play. It is completely initiated by children and does not have specific objectives or a broader purpose. This type of play is innate for both children and adults. As humans, we have a natural tendency to play. In free play, children can engage in it naturally, without requiring guidance.
Play as a method of learning, or commonly called as learning through play. This type of play is what play-based learning is all about. While it can incorporate free play as one of its techniques, play-based learning typically involves more guided or structured activities with specific educational objectives.
In this blog, we learn more about play as a learning method and its forms in early childhood education setting!
Play as a method of learning
The second category of Play is play-based learning or so we called, play as a method of learning. Play-based learning is a teaching method where various knowledge and skills are taught to children through play. The adult is primarily responsible for planning the goals. In this approach, play has mainly an 'instrumental value.' There can be several different types of play-based learning. Let’s take a look at some of them:
1. Sensory Play
Sensory play engages children’s senses—touch, smell, sight, sound, and taste—encouraging exploration and discovery. It helps develop sensory processing skills and supports cognitive growth. By interacting with different textures, smells, and sounds, children sharpen their ability to process sensory information while fostering creativity and curiosity.
Examples of sensory play:
- Playing with sand or water.
- Exploring sensory bins filled with items of varying textures, colors, and shapes.
How is sensory play supported in our curricula at HEI Schools?
Our curricula provides practical lesson plans and activities to help educators incorporate sensory play into their teaching. For example:
- Playtime Molding: A creative activity from the Tiny Tots Crafts and Visual Expression program.
- Bubble Wrap Activity: A fun and tactile experience from the Lively Learners Verbal and Bodily Expression program.
These resources are designed to make sensory play both engaging and impactful, ensuring that children not only enjoy the activities but also benefit from meaningful learning experiences.
2. Parallel Play
Parallel play occurs when children play alongside each other without direct interaction. Common among younger children, this type of play allows them to observe and learn from one another before engaging in more social forms of play.
- Example: Two children playing separately with their own toys in the same space.
Parallel play is often observed in activities like:
- Crafting: Children sit side by side, each creating their own drawing or painting, often using shared art supplies.
- Construction Play: Children build individual towers or structures in close proximity without collaborating.
- Sensory Play: At a sand or water table, children play next to each other, independently scooping, pouring, or exploring.
This stage is crucial for fostering independence while subtly encouraging social awareness.
3. Onlooker Play
Onlooker play refers to a stage where children observe others playing without directly participating. Though it may appear passive, this form of play is an important learning opportunity. By watching others interact, solve problems, and follow rules, children are building the foundation for future active engagement.
- Example: A child watching peers construct a tower without joining in.
Parents often worry when they notice their child engaging in onlooker play, wondering, "Why isn't my child playing with others?" It's crucial to reassure them that this stage of play is a natural and valuable part of a child's development.
To support onlooker play, parents and educators can:
- Use encouraging phrases like, "Wow, look at what they're building!" to spark interest.
- Model participation by joining the activity and showing that it’s fun and safe.
- Be patient and give the child the time and space to join in when they feel ready.
By understanding and supporting onlooker play, we can help children transition confidently into active participation.
4. Cooperative Play
Cooperative play occurs when children interact and engage with their peers, helping them develop essential social skills such as communication, cooperation, and conflict resolution. It plays a key role in understanding group dynamics and fostering teamwork.
For children aged 4–7, cooperative play often involves imaginative group activities, such as role-playing. This form of play is a natural and fundamental way for children to immerse themselves in pure, creative interaction.
- Examples: Playing board games, participating in group activities, or collaborating on a shared project.
5. Pretend or Dramatic Play
Dramatic play allows children to step into different roles and act out various real-world scenarios. This type of play helps them understand their surroundings while building essential social and emotional skills. It fosters language development, empathy, and cooperation, making it a powerful tool for learning and growth.
- Examples include playing "house," "doctor," or "teacher."
How is dramatic play supported in our curricula at HEI Schools?
We support dramatic play by providing educators with themed play scenarios, role-play prompts, and printable props to spark imagination. We also include guidance on setting up dramatic play areas, like pretend kitchens, doctor’s offices, or transportation hubs, using low-cost or repurposed materials. Educators receive tips on facilitating imaginative play while encouraging social interaction, language development, and problem-solving skills. By aligning these activities with developmental milestones, we want to ensure that dramatic play becomes a powerful tool for learning and creativity.
6. Physical Play
Physical play engages children’s motor skills and physical abilities, helping them develop coordination, strength, and spatial awareness. It’s an excellent way to channel their energy while promoting overall physical health.
Examples: Activities such as climbing, running, dancing, or playing with balls are perfect for fostering physical play.
How we support Physical Play in our curricula at HEI Schools?
Our curricula provide educators with practical tools to encourage and enable physical play in children. These activities are designed to inspire movement, creativity, and fun while supporting physical development:
- Hop, Hop, Jump: This activity helps children develop gross motor skills through jumping and hopping.
- Origami Workshop: Origami is a creative and hands-on activity that helps improve fine motor skills and promotes concentration.
7. Constructive Play
Constructive play focuses on building and creating, promoting cognitive development, problem-solving, and fine motor skills. It encourages children to explore different materials, experiment with structures, and bring their imagination to life.
- Examples include building with blocks, solving puzzles, or engaging in creative activities like drawing.
How we support constructive play in our curricula at HEI Schools?
We provide a safe and stimulating environment where children can freely explore and create. Aditionally, our educators support children in their play by providing open-ended materials and encouraging them to think critically, communicate with others, and use their problem-solving skills. Here are some sample resources designed to help educators nurture constructive play:
- Paper Mache Sphere: A creative hands-on activity to inspire imagination.
- Structure of the City: A project that combines design and problem-solving to build intricate structures of a city.
8. Rule-Based Play
Rule-based play involves activities with clear rules or guidelines, supporting cognitive development, self-regulation, and an understanding of structure. This type of play becomes more common as children grow older and develop the ability to comprehend and follow rules.
- Examples include games like "Simon Says," card games, or simple board games.
How is rule-based play supported in our curricula at HEI Schools?
Our teachers facilitate these activities by actively encouraging children to follow the rules and guiding them to create the rules of their own. An example of a rule-based activity that requires no materials or equipment:
- Noisy Ball: Children imagine a ball that makes fun, unique sounds of their choice. They "throw" and "catch" the imaginary ball, passing it around while creating the sounds.
9. Storytelling or Narrative Play
In this form of play, children create stories or scenarios, either through verbal expression or by acting them out. This type of imaginative activity fosters language development, enhances creativity, and supports cognitive growth as children learn to structure narratives and articulate their ideas.
Examples include:
- Inventing stories using toys or characters
- Performing puppet shows
- Engaging in collaborative storytelling with peers
How is narrative play supported in our curricula at HEI Schools?
At HEI Schools, we believe that imaginative and narrative play is an essential part of a child's development. Our curriculum incorporates various activities and materials to support children in their imaginative play, allowing them to express themselves freely and creatively. Our teachers actively engage with the children during playtime, asking open-ended questions and encouraging language development through storytelling. Examples of activites we organize with HEI curriculum:
- HEI Story of the Month: Explore how the HEI program facilitates creative storytelling opportunities for children.
Conclusion
As you have seen from this article, the world of play is very rich and there are many different ways children play and also learn, as the natural by-product of the play. In the era of artificial intelligence, creativity and out-of-the box thinking are getting more and more valuable and needed skills. If you are still interested in getting deeper into the topic, HEI Schools Teacher Diploma course delves deeper into the Play and its role in learning.
Therefore, perhaps we adults as educators and parents should re-think the role of play in a child’s life and start appreciating especially the free play? By giving children time to play freely every day may be the best investment we make into their future.
Interested in implementing play-based learning at your school? Explore more with our educational solutions for you
We would like to invite you to take a look at our Toolkit Curriculum, which is one of our educational solutions that encompasses all the play-based learning mentioned above into one complete and implementable curriculum. The Toolkit curriculum comprises all the lesson plans, activities, and additional resources that can be readily used by teachers at your school(s).
