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You are here: Home / Play-Based Learning Ideas for Parents, Teachers and Caregivers

Play-Based Learning Ideas for Parents, Teachers and Caregivers

Play-based learning is something near and dear to my heart. There is no sound in the world I love more than the sound of my children playing. And what absolutely fascinates me is how experientially rich play is. Whether we engage our kids and set up invitations to play or just leave them to their own devices, they are always learning through play.

 

In this section, you will find play-based learning activities and articles. All of my activities use inexpensive, common materials. You will notice my posts underscore the basic skills children are learning when engaging in my invitations to play.

 

Facilitate play-based learning at home or in your classroom with these wonderful resources. Includes tips on how to build on your child's play, why play-based learning and sensory play are important, and loads of simple kids activities to promote learning through play!

 

Below are my top play-based learning posts. I hope you enjoy:

  • 10 Ways to Facilitate Play-Based Learning at Home
  • Sensory Play Ideas and What is Being Learned
  • Low or No-Prep Kids Activities for When You Need a Break
  • Simple Olympic Activities for Preschoolers
  • Solar System Sensory Bin with Printable Pack
  • 25+ Activities to Improve Printing without Writing
  • Facilitate play-based learning at home with these fun ideas
    Read More
    10 Ways To Facilitate Play-Based Learning At Home
    February 8, 2016
  • Join the #PowerofPlay play-based learning challenge
    Read More
    Join the Power of Play Challenge | #PowerOfPlay52
    March 1, 2016
  • Read More
    EASY to Make Fine Motor Flowers
    March 1, 2016
  • Read More
    101+ Bad Weather Kids Activities
    May 5, 2016
  • Three sensory play ideas - water and water gun with foam noodles, coloured foam, jello fish in pool Kiddie pools are fun for a brief period of time and then kind of lose their intrigue. Then, parents are left with a massive piece of plastic to store in the backyard or garage. All it takes is a little creativity and some common household items to re-purpose your kiddie pool and make it into a massive sensory bin. It's such a fun way for kids to engage in play-based learning outside. 
    Read More
    How to make your kiddie pool awesome with sensory play
    May 20, 2016
  • There is so much information about the importance and value of play and play-based learning. As a parent, how do we build on our child's play and are there things that can hinder the magic of play-based learning?
    Read More
    The Magic of Play-Based Learning: What Builds and What Breaks?
    June 3, 2016
  • Celebrate Finding Dory with this super simple Finding Dory activity. This activity is perfect for a Finding Dory birthday party, for party favours, or just for fun! Create a home for Dory and her friends while engaging your kids in scientific discovery and sensory play!
    Read More
    Super Simple Finding Dory Activity
    June 22, 2016
  • Bust summer boredom with these simple fun backyard ideas for kids, rooted in play-based learning and SUPER budget friendly
    Read More
    10 Simple Backyard Fun Ideas for Kids
    June 27, 2016
  • Bring your nature scavenger to life with these 7 nature scavenger hunt crafts. Find printables for your nature scavenger hunt, ideas for what to look for and then 7 activities to do with your kids afterwards! Simple ideas, play-based learning, easy crafts for preschoolers, toddlers
    Read More
    Nature Scavenger Hunt Crafts: 7 Activities To Do Afterwards
    July 22, 2016

 

Don’t forget to join the Undeniable Power of Play community on Facebook and follow us on Instagram to see countless play-based learning ideas. Use the hashtag #PowerofPlay52 on Instagram and we could re-gram your ideas!

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Hi! I'm Alana. When I'm not nursing cold, stale coffee, I usually can be found with the baby on my hip, barefoot, and racing after my two older kids. Thanks to a degree in psychology and a free-range childhood backing onto an expansive evergreen forest, positive parenting and play-based learning are my passions. Read more here.

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Alana-Parenting From The Heart
Me to my 5yo: stay still I want to take your pictu Me to my 5yo: stay still I want to take your picture.
My 5yo:
A beautiful reminder to find little ways to connec A beautiful reminder to find little ways to connect with our children ❤️❤️❤️
Often people fear responsive parenting will create Often people fear responsive parenting will create needy kids. 

Developmental research suggests otherwise. 

The more reliably and compassionately that we respond to our children’s needs, the more secure and assured they feel to venture out into the world.

Attachment & independence aren’t two opposite sides of a spectrum but two sides of the same coin.
😍Yep - Absolutely love this. via @Angela Anagno 😍Yep - Absolutely love this.
via @Angela Anagnost-Repke, Writer
Every. single. time I see this I laugh out loud 🤣🤣🤣
I can't think of anything more true.
via https://twitter.com/amydillon
Yes 👏👏👏 via @DissociativeDiaries Yes 👏👏👏
via @DissociativeDiaries
Every. Day. Via Matt Beaudreau Every. Day.

Via Matt Beaudreau
I remember in my earlier days of parenting when I I remember in my earlier days of parenting when I had two under two so much of my life was spent thinking I’ll be happy when…

I’ll be happy when they sleep through the night.

I’ll be happy when my husband doesn’t have to work such late hours.

I’ll be happy when I look and feel like myself again and not a feeding troth 😬😬😬

As it turns out this struggle with finding happiness isn’t unique to me or parenting. 

Collectively our mental health is suffering, but there are many research backed ways to improve happiness. (Link in bio to read more).
♥️♥️ via Heather Shumaker ♥️♥️

via Heather Shumaker
THIS. 🙌🙌 (Follow Maryfairy Boberry) THIS. 🙌🙌 (Follow Maryfairy Boberry)
👣 via @creativechildmag 👣

via @creativechildmag
via Happy as a Mother 🙂❤ via Happy as a Mother 🙂❤
Though there are countless people who understand t Though there are countless people who understand the importance of positive, responsive parenting, the idea that young children should self-soothe remains a prevalent belief.

Though this ideology is well-intentioned, it actually goes against what we know about human development.

Babies come into the world highly dependent on responsive caregiving not only for nurturance and protection but also to foster social and emotional development.

While it may seem that leaving a child to cry will help her learn to cope, it actually floods her brain with cortisol. She doesn’t learn to self-soothe but instead to shut down.

Though it may seem counterintuitive to some, independence is fostered through responsive care. The less stressed a child feels, the safer he feels to explore his world. The less stressed he feels, the more appropriate his emotional responses become.

This is first seen in late infancy but pervades through childhood and adulthood.

Have any questions about these findings? Feel free to comment below or send me a message!
❤️❤️❤️❤️ Teach Through Love ❤️❤️❤️❤️ Teach Through Love
via @unconditional_parenting. via @unconditional_parenting.
via The Outnumbered Mother via The Outnumbered Mother
❤❤❤ ❤❤❤
😂 😂
So often independence and attachment are thought t So often independence and attachment are thought to be mutually exclusive.
However, research shows that in order for children (and adults) to be independent, they need to feel safe and secure within their closest relationships. In childhood, this means having caregivers who respond to distress and both emotional and physical needs.
In adulthood, people who have responsive and caring partners feel more stable and comfortable being independent.
So hold and comfort those babies.
Hug and respond to your kids.
Love and hold space for the adults you are closest to.
Attachment fosters independence.
Absolutely this. Via Living FULL Absolutely this. Via Living FULL
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