The Montessori Method involves teaching Montessori preschool children through play-based activities. The practice has been studied and approved by educational experts around the world, but what, exactly, does “play-based learning” actually mean? It means more than sitting and playing with toys, but it has the same fascination for small kids. Here are 3 important ways that play-based learning helps children be successful.
1. Motor Skill Development
Montessori preschool students are still developing their fine motor skills. This includes things like gripping and will be critical skills when they begin learning to write. Activities that encourage fine motor skill development include playing with blocks, arranging alphabet letters, and authentic Montessori activities like the Pink Tower.
2. Building Critical Thinking Skills
Solving puzzles and figuring out how things like the Pink Tower work help children learn to use logic and other thinking skills. Critical thinking skills will be applied to math and language activities as well as practical life experience and social interaction. These skills help instill self-reliance and personal value in children, which they will need in all social interactions,
3. Increased Language Skills
Team or group activities require children to talk, sing, or communicate in other ways. Children learn new vocabulary related to the activity and develop social skills related to communication, culture, and more. Through enjoyable activities, children are willing to accept words, things, and customs that are different from themselves just as those who are different will accept them.
Far from being a way to pass away the day, play-based learning incorporates enjoyable activities into specialized educational experiences. By engaging the hands and minds of children, these activities open the door for learning and exploration. The thing to remember is that almost any sort of educational experience can include hands-on, enjoyable tools that encourage children to want to learn– and children who want to learn will soon discover that the world is full of learning opportunities.