Who says learning can’t be fun? How play-based learning unlocks your child’s potential
At Lillipods Preschool, the sound of happy chatter and the sight of children deeply engaged in building, creating, and imagining are not signs of mere recess. They are the visible evidence of a unique educational approach in action: play-based learning. This approach, developed by academic experts, is a key facet of the Finnish early education model adopted across Lillipods preschools.
For many parents here, the transition from a more traditional, structured preschool environment to one filled with purposeful play raises the question: How can play possibly prepare a child for the academic rigour of Singapore’s primary school system?
The answer lies in understanding what play-based learning really is.
Play-based learning is a carefully orchestrated approach where children learn essential skills through guided and self-directed play. Far from random, it involves a range of activities thoughtfully designed to fall into several key types of play, each nurturing a different aspect of a child’s development.
"Children do not play to learn, but they learn while they play," said Professor Lasse Lipponen, an early childhood education professor at the University of Helsinki and co-founder of Lillipods’ parent company HEI Schools.
A closer look: The nine types of play-based learning
At Lillipods, our educators are trained to recognise and facilitate these nine distinct types of play, ensuring a holistic developmental experience for every child.
Sensory Play: This involves activities that engage the senses, like sand, water, or play dough. It builds nerve connections in the brain's pathways, leading to a child's ability to complete more complex learning tasks.
Cooperative Play: This is when children play together with a shared goal, like building a castle or putting on a puppet show. It’s fundamental for developing teamwork, negotiation, and communication skills.
Parallel Play: Common in younger toddlers, this is when children play side-by-side with similar toys but do not directly interact. It’s a crucial stage for learning social cues and building confidence before engaging in more social forms of play.
Onlooker Play: This occurs when a child observes others playing without joining in. While it may seem passive, it is a valuable form of learning where the child is gathering information, understanding rules, and gaining confidence to participate later.
Dramatic or Pretend Play: When children take on roles and create imaginary scenarios, they are developing empathy, language skills, and abstract thinking. This is the foundation for storytelling and understanding different perspectives.
Physical Play: Running, jumping, climbing, and dancing are all forms of physical play that develop gross and fine motor skills, coordination, and overall physical health. It also helps children understand their physical capabilities and build self-confidence.
Constructive Play: This is when children build or create something with a purpose, using blocks or other materials. It lays the groundwork for mathematical and engineering concepts like symmetry, balance, and planning.
Rule-Based Play: As children grow older, they gravitate towards games with predetermined rules, like board games or simple team sports. This teaches them about fairness, order, and the importance of following social structures.
Narrative Play: This involves children creating or re-telling stories, often using props or picture books. It directly supports literacy development, sequencing skills, and verbal expression.
All such activities cultivate cognitive flexibility, focus, and the ability to follow instructions, all of which prepare children for a smooth transition to the structured classroom environment of Primary 1.
Developing confident and curious children
The academic benefits of play-based learning are also well-documented. For example, research by Harvard's Graduate School of Education has highlighted various benefits of the approach, including supporting cognitive development and socio-emotional development, being well-suited to developmental needs, and being fun and engaging for children.
Play is the natural way children learn to think critically and solve problems. “Children show a natural motivation to play, and when we integrate playful elements into our teaching, we can see the inner motivation building in the children. They showcase more engagement and through that, more learning,” said Karoliina Nygren, Director, Pedagogy & Curriculum, at Lillipods’ parent company HEI Schools.
Furthermore, play-based learning is exceptional for language development. As children narrate their stories, explain their ideas, and listen to their peers, they are building a rich vocabulary and practising complex sentence structures. This strong oral language foundation is critical for reading and writing fluency, key pillars of the primary school curriculum.
For parents in Singapore, where the educational journey is highly valued, it is reassuring to know that play-based learning does not sacrifice academic readiness, but redefines it. Instead of rote memorisation, it builds the underlying cognitive machinery for lifelong learning. It fosters resilience, curiosity, and a genuine love for discovery.
