Education Through Play

The impact of educational play on childhood development isn’t just a nice idea – it’s scientifically proven.

Play-based learning in early childhood helps children develop essential skills, benefitting their physical and social capabilities whilst nurturing a natural curiosity about the world around them.

Outdoor playgrounds are crucial in providing a well-equipped and safe space for children to explore their creativity, develop problem-solving skills and practise social interaction with other children.

Read on for the complete Playdale guide to educational play for early years foundation stage (EYFS) children.

What is play-based learning?

Educational play makes up a key element of the EYFS framework, the officially recognised guide for children up to five years old.

The EYFS learning through play framework defines educational play as activities in one of three categories: finding out and exploring, applying their knowledge through play, and confidently trying new experiences.

These aims can be met with early years play equipment, with the most important measure of play-based learning being the development of cognitive, emotional, physical and social skills.

Play in early childhood education

Play-based learning in early childhood should start before school, primarily through parent-child play.

In fact, you have likely engaged in educational play without even realising it –  such as helping to teach a toddler about object permanence by playing peekaboo!

When children do reach preschool and primary school, the role of play in early childhood education will become more obvious – through outdoor break times, ‘golden time’ and lessons in arts, crafts and outdoor enrichment that are hardwired into the school curriculum.

Outdoor play in early childhood

Outdoor play is chock-full of educational benefits in children, particularly benefitting physical fitness, improved coordination and a stronger connection to nature.

Early childhood outdoor play also helps educate children through sensory play, a form of play-based learning that is especially beneficial for children who are neurodivergent.

This is why many schools use outdoor classrooms, especially when teaching lessons involving musical equipment, practising storytelling or teaching drama and performance.

By moving play-based education outside, children can benefit from both outdoor play in early childhood and crucial education through play.

What skills can children develop through play?

Many of the UK’s playground favourites educate children in unsuspected ways, helping them from early childhood through to their formative years.

Play-based learning has a long and varied list of benefits, including the improvement and development of:

• Fine motor skills
• Communication
• Stamina and general fitness
• Cooperation for shared enjoyment, as can be seen in equipment such as the Timber Team Swing and Timber Seesaw.
• Understanding of physical capabilities, limits and safe risk-taking, as can be seen in the continued use of climbing frames.
• Inclusivity amongst children of different social and physical capabilities – equipment such as the Sign Language Panel, Inclusive Orbit roundabout, Communication Board Panel and others enable children of all abilities to play as one.
• Stress reduction
• The immune system, particularly due to improved sun exposure and vitamin D uptake.

Whichever way you enable children to learn through play, play education sharpens the mind and body with results that are carried through into adulthood.

Early years

Quality, age-appropriate play equipment can massively elevate play-based learning in early childhood.

The correct early years equipment educates children in formative life skills, boosting their physical skills and fostering creativity through unique experiences.

Roleplay: Play equipment can help facilitate creativity in children by doubling as a climbing frame prop in roleplay, as can be seen in our Play Car, Play Train, Tractor and more.

Nature play: Play equipment can strengthen a child’s understanding of basic science, the elements and the outside world, educating them whilst nurturing their own natural curiosity. This can be best seen through sand and water play and mud kitchens.

Adventure play: Play equipment can be used to encourage children to build confidence and independence, turning children into the little explorers our toddler play frames are named after. A great example of adventure play includes the Little Hamlets Plus range for EYFS and above.

Cooperative play: Play equipment teaches children that working together can help them reach the shared goal of fun, as can be seen with the our custom Games Tables.

Junior

Junior play equipment, like early years equipment, helps children develop push physical capabilities, develop core values, socialise and foster creativity.

Where junior play equipment differs is in the scale of the challenges presented.

Junior children are ready for the next step in their physical and social development, meaning larger, more intricate climbing frames and play equipment that, while exciting for a junior-aged child, would otherwise be a health risk for early years toddlers.

For additional equipment designed with juniors in mind, consider climbers for ages 5+, Adventure Trails, Woodland Eco Towers and more.

Want to educate through play? We can help

Contact us today if you want to introduce play-based learning to your local school, park or play area.

If you’re unsure where to start but aren’t ready to reach out, check the playground inspiration page for examples of how we can help create the perfect educational playground – as well as other case studies from across the UK.