Preschool Offers Growth Through Play-Based Learning

credit: Flickr

Maren Petersen-DeGroff, Children's Program coordinator at Parenting Now!, writes how a few hours a week in an intentionally prepared environment with age-based peers can help build the skills that children need to be successful.

Petersen-DeGroff shares that most experts agree upon is that preschoolers learn best when they get plenty of unstructured play time.

Petersen-DeGroff also points out the type of play that is best for toddlers and preschoolers. According to Petersen-DeGroff, "guided, open-ended play, with well-trained adults, shows children how to work toward a shared goal, become sensitive to the needs of others, and communicate their needs and ideas."

Petersen-DeGroff advises that toddlers aren't ready for direct teaching of literacy, math and other knowledge content, but play-based learning materials help children make meaningful connections and understandings of their world. She adds that memory is strengthened through repeated experiences.

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