Even though researchers can not agree on the exact definition of playful learning, there are some characteristics that everybody is sure about.
Playful learning strategies
Besides all those nice tools, techniques en tactics to shape your playful learning with, there are also some learning strategies that go along with the playful learning. Every child learns in a different way and every situation or setting asks for different learning strategies. A learning strategy is the way in which a pupil approaches it's learning (wij-leren, z.d.). I will shortly explain some learning strategies of playful learning by Playful Learning Organization (n.d.).
The freedom of identity
While playing, children can be any figure or role they want to be. Our real and own identity affects our playful identities. Every child has an own image of the different existing roles and identities. While playing, children give meaning to different identities. While learning, children can move themselves into those identities and see and handle situations in different ways. Within this learning strategies, the playful identities are there to empower the children to take charge in their education.
The freedom to fail
In playful situations, a lot of challenges occur and within the play, children try to handle those challenges. It is very usual to fail while trying to solve problems. Though, within play, failing is different than it is in the real world. While playing, children learn to accept failure and learn that making mistakes is really okay. They learn that making mistakes does not have to be seen as a personal judgement. Because of playing, the children understand that failure is necessary for them to learn new things.
The freedom of effort
Children vary in the amount of effort they use in their play. Sometimes they play in role in which they are very competitive or active. Sometimes children play a role more casual and more in cooperation with the other children. This attitude and effort towards roles, can be because of the type of role or because of the meaning children give to a role. Though, it doesn't matter how much effort a child puts into a role. Playing is still learning. This a learning strategy teachers often find though. In schools, children are expected to be focused all the time and to put in a lot of effort in everything they do and learn. Within play, you have to let this idea go.
The freedom to experiment
Because playing is such a free activity, there is enough space for experimenting and investigating. The children need to be creative and connect different ideas and situations to each other. They find what works best in every situation and in this way they take control over their own learning. Experimenting creates stronger links between the different learning materials, what causes the knowledge to stay in their brain more strong and longer.
Besides that playing is just something that is inside children, it is also a good way to lead their development in the right direction. By playing, children work on their social, emotional and intellectual development. It seems that playing is the only way to truly develop those aspects.
Even though this blog is meant for teachers teaching in kindergarten, I want to emphasize that you should always keep in mind that playful learning is also very important for older children. Children are children, they all like to play and they all need to play.
But now, what does play actually mean?
Four general characteristics about play are:
But now, what does play actually mean?
Four general characteristics about play are:
- playing and fun always go together. The player is involved in an active way.
- playing is completely voluntary.
- the player starts playing on his own initiative as long as he wants to do it or as long as he gets the chance to do it.
- playing is only about the process of playing. There is no external purpose.
Free play
There are different versions of play, but only free play will give the younger children the possibility to learn the specific skills they need. Within a free play activity, it is intended that there are no restrictions and that nothing is decided yet. The children themselves will give meaning to their play.
What do you need?
In order to let the children learn something out of play, you should make sure to consider some conditions before this process can start.
First, it is all about the setting. A good setting for playful learning should make the children curious and challenge them into exploring and investigating. This you can achieve by providing some interesting objects, specific items or stories for example.
Second, it is the teacher's task to oversee the playing situations and the pupils. It is important for the teacher to make sure that the setting or the situation is not too much. Whenever this is the case, it will automatically brake the children in their learning process and this is not what you want.
Third, we should all remember how important the teacher is in this process. You as a teacher are indispensable. You have to observe the playing and help when necessary. Helping out can occur in different forms. Sometimes the teacher just has to ask a question or say something and other times it is necessary that the teacher gets into a role and starts playing with the children (Gynzy, n.d.).
Appearances of playful learning
There are so many ways to use playful learning within your education. On this blog, I will give some examples of lessons and activities to stimulate the playful learning. Though, the picture down below will also give you some inspiration on how to use playful learning in your classroom. As you can see, there are many possibilities.
Figure 1. Playful learning tools, techniques and tactics. (Whitton, 2018, p. 5).
Playful learning strategies
Besides all those nice tools, techniques en tactics to shape your playful learning with, there are also some learning strategies that go along with the playful learning. Every child learns in a different way and every situation or setting asks for different learning strategies. A learning strategy is the way in which a pupil approaches it's learning (wij-leren, z.d.). I will shortly explain some learning strategies of playful learning by Playful Learning Organization (n.d.).
The freedom of identity
While playing, children can be any figure or role they want to be. Our real and own identity affects our playful identities. Every child has an own image of the different existing roles and identities. While playing, children give meaning to different identities. While learning, children can move themselves into those identities and see and handle situations in different ways. Within this learning strategies, the playful identities are there to empower the children to take charge in their education.
The freedom to fail
In playful situations, a lot of challenges occur and within the play, children try to handle those challenges. It is very usual to fail while trying to solve problems. Though, within play, failing is different than it is in the real world. While playing, children learn to accept failure and learn that making mistakes is really okay. They learn that making mistakes does not have to be seen as a personal judgement. Because of playing, the children understand that failure is necessary for them to learn new things.
The freedom of effort
Children vary in the amount of effort they use in their play. Sometimes they play in role in which they are very competitive or active. Sometimes children play a role more casual and more in cooperation with the other children. This attitude and effort towards roles, can be because of the type of role or because of the meaning children give to a role. Though, it doesn't matter how much effort a child puts into a role. Playing is still learning. This a learning strategy teachers often find though. In schools, children are expected to be focused all the time and to put in a lot of effort in everything they do and learn. Within play, you have to let this idea go.
The freedom to experiment
Because playing is such a free activity, there is enough space for experimenting and investigating. The children need to be creative and connect different ideas and situations to each other. They find what works best in every situation and in this way they take control over their own learning. Experimenting creates stronger links between the different learning materials, what causes the knowledge to stay in their brain more strong and longer.
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