Play roles in Development

This session really changed my thinking about early childhood education. I used to think that play was a fun break from learning.. Now I see that play is actually the foundation of early learning. The fact that 90% of brain development happens before age five is amazing. It means we should not wait until formal school starts to help a child learn. Play helps a child to develop emotionally, socially, physically, also in cognitive and language development. not also that it has many educational benefits. 


 During our World Cafe activity, where we looked at the ECCD Curriculum Frameworks learning domains I saw how true the phrase "One Play, Many developments" is. I thought about an activity like Sand Play. A child is learning math and physics when they measure and pour sand. At the time they are learning social skills like taking turns and being kind to others when they share buckets and space with friends.

 From a standpoint play helps connect a child thinking center with their emotional center. When children explore and play they build connections in their brain that help them learn and grow. Going forward I will make sure to use play-based strategies in my work. Play is not a waste of time. Our session showed me that play helps children develop and grow. Play is actually a tool, for development.


Comments

  1. Sonam ChodenMay 17, 2026 at 8:33 PM

    Your reflection is meaningful and shows a clear understanding of the importance of play in early childhood education. You explained your change in thinking very well and connected your learning with classroom activities. The example of sand play is especially strong because it shows how one activity supports many areas of development at the same time.

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