Choosing the right nursery for your child is an important decision, as these early years lay the foundation for lifelong learning and development. At Jelly Beans Childcare, we believe in the transformative power of play-based learning. This approach allows children to explore, create, and discover in a supportive environment, fostering essential skills that will serve them well throughout their lives. But what exactly does nursery teach your children through play-based learning? Let’s explore the key areas of development that this approach nurtures.
Fostering Cognitive Development Through Play
At Jelly Beans Childcare, play-based learning is central to our educational philosophy. Children learn best when they are actively engaged, and play provides the best platform for this. Through structured and unstructured play, children develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Activities like building blocks, sorting objects, and playing matching games help children understand concepts like cause and effect, patterns and sequencing.
For example, when children engage in a puzzle, they are not having fun, they are also learning to recognise shapes, develop spatial awareness, and enhance their memory. This type of cognitive development is essential as it lays the groundwork for more complex learning in later years.
Encouraging Social and Emotional Growth
Play-based learning is also instrumental in teaching children how to interact with others. At Jelly Beans Childcare, we create environments where children can engage in group play, which is crucial for developing social skills. Through play, children learn to share, take turns, cooperate, and resolve conflicts, all essential components of social interaction.
Moreover, play allows children to express their emotions in a healthy way. Role-playing games, for instance, let children explore different feelings and scenarios, helping them understand and manage their own emotions as well as empathise with others. This emotional intelligence is critical as it forms the basis for successful relationships in the future.
Developing Language and Communication Skills
Nursery is a place in which children’s language and communication skills flourish, and
play-based learning plays an important role in this. Whether through storytelling, singing, or engaging in imaginative play, children are constantly exposed to new vocabulary and language structures.
At Jelly Beans Childcare, we encourage children to express themselves verbally during play. For example, when children participate in a pretend grocery store activity, they learn new words related to shopping, food, and money. This is only expands their vocabulary but their ability to talk correctly with friends and adults
Promoting Physical Development
Physical play is another crucial aspect of play-based learning, and at Jelly Beans Childcare, we make sure that children have plenty of opportunities to expand their motor skills.
Activities like running, jumping, climbing, and playing with toys that require hand-eye coordination help children build both their exceptional and gross motor skills.
For example, when children play with playdough or thread beads onto a string, they are developing the fine motor skills needed for tasks like writing. Meanwhile, outdoor playtime allows children to interact in physical activities that enhance their balance, coordination, and physical fitness.
Nurturing Creativity and Imagination
One of the most exciting aspects of play-based learning is its ability to nurture creativity and imagination. At Jelly Beans Childcare, we provide a variety of materials and activities that inspire children to think creatively. Whether it’s through arts and crafts, constructing with blocks, or accomplishing pretend play, children are constantly encouraged to use their imagination.
This creative thinking is not just about making art, it is about learning to approach problems in innovative ways, a skill that is invaluable in both academic and everyday life.
At Jelly Beans Childcare, play-based learning is at the heart of everything we do. Through play, children learn vital cognitive, social, emotional, and physical skills that form the inspiration for their future learning and development. By choosing a nursery like Jelly Beans that embraces play-based learning, you are giving your child the best possible start in life, ensuring they grow into confident, capable, and creative individuals.
