Play-based learning: Building skills for life
Play-based learning is at the heart of how children naturally explore, discover and make sense of the world around them. As we celebrate International Day of Play on 11 June, it is a timely reminder that play is far more than a childhood pastime. It is a powerful driver of learning, wellbeing and development that helps children build the skills they need for school, relationships and life.
Recognised by the United Nations, International Day of Play highlights every child’s right to play and the important role it plays in healthy development. While many parents associate play with the preschool years, researchers and educators continue to recognise its value well into primary school and beyond. Through carefully designed experiences, children build confidence, creativity, resilience and critical thinking skills while remaining engaged in the learning process.
As children grow, the way they play changes. The benefits, however, remain remarkably consistent. Whether they are constructing a tower, creating a story, solving a challenge with classmates or exploring ideas through imaginative role-play, children are developing capabilities that support lifelong learning.
What is play-based learning?
Play-based learning is an educational approach that uses purposeful play to support children’s cognitive, social, emotional and physical development.
This does not mean children are left to entertain themselves while adults observe from a distance. Effective play-based learning is intentionally designed by educators. Teachers create environments, pose questions, introduce resources and guide experiences that encourage curiosity, exploration and problem-solving.
Children remain active participants in their own learning. They investigate ideas, test theories, make decisions and reflect on outcomes. At the same time, educators carefully connect these experiences to important learning goals.
Research shows that children learn best when they are engaged, motivated and emotionally connected to what they are doing. Play provides a natural pathway to achieve this.
Why play matters more than many parents realise
When adults think about school readiness, they often focus on academic skills such as counting, reading and writing. While these skills are important, they are only part of the picture.
Children also need to develop self-regulation, communication, persistence and the ability to work with others. These capabilities strongly influence future academic success.
Research from the Australian Government’s Growing Up in Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children has found that self-regulation skills are linked to children’s learning outcomes, social competence and wellbeing throughout their school years. Children develop these skills through repeated opportunities to practise decision-making, managing emotions and interacting with others.
Play creates these opportunities naturally. A child negotiating roles in a pretend café learns cooperation and communication. Another child building a bridge from blocks develops spatial awareness, planning skills and perseverance. A group creating rules for a playground game learns fairness, leadership and compromise.
These lessons often occur without children realising they are learning.
How play supports academic achievement
Some parents worry that play may come at the expense of academic learning. In reality, high-quality play experiences often strengthen the foundations needed for future academic success.
Consider literacy. During play, children engage in conversations, tell stories, listen to others and experiment with language. These experiences build vocabulary and oral communication skills that later support reading and writing development.
The same applies to mathematics. Sorting objects, building structures, measuring ingredients or recognising patterns during play helps children develop early mathematical understanding.
Research commissioned by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority highlighted that play supports children’s language development, problem-solving skills and emerging literacy and numeracy capabilities. These foundations are critical during the early years of schooling.
Children who enjoy learning are also more likely to remain engaged as educational demands increase.
The changing role of play in primary school
As children progress through primary school, play does not disappear. Instead, it evolves.
In the early years, children may spend significant time engaged in imaginative and exploratory play. As they grow older, play often becomes more collaborative, strategic and inquiry-based.
Students might design solutions to real-world problems, participate in simulations, create projects, conduct investigations or engage in hands-on learning experiences. These activities encourage creativity while also developing critical thinking and analytical skills.
Many educators now recognise that learning and play exist on a continuum rather than as separate concepts. Some of the most meaningful learning experiences combine both.
This approach also supports student wellbeing. Australian children are experiencing increasing levels of stress and pressure. Opportunities for exploration, creativity and joyful learning can help maintain engagement while supporting emotional health.
Skills children develop through play
One of the greatest strengths of play-based learning is that it develops multiple skills at the same time.
When children engage in purposeful play, they often strengthen:
- communication and language skills
- creativity and imagination
- collaboration and teamwork
- emotional regulation
- resilience and persistence
- problem-solving abilities
- critical thinking
- confidence and independence.
These skills are increasingly valued by employers and universities. While academic achievement remains important, the ability to adapt, communicate and think creatively is becoming equally significant in a rapidly changing world.
The foundations for these capabilities begin much earlier than many people realise.
What parents can do at home
Parents play an important role in supporting learning through play.
Simple activities often have the greatest impact. Building cubby houses, playing board games, gardening, cooking together or creating imaginative stories all provide valuable learning opportunities.
The key is not to focus on outcomes too quickly. Children benefit when they have time to explore ideas, make mistakes and discover solutions independently.
Open-ended questions can also deepen learning. Asking: “What do you think will happen?” or “How could you solve that problem?” encourages children to reflect and think critically.
Perhaps most importantly, children need time. In a world filled with schedules and screens, unhurried play remains one of the most valuable gifts adults can provide.
Looking beyond the early years of play-based learning
The value of play extends far beyond preschool and the first years of primary school. It supports the development of capable, confident and curious learners who are prepared to engage with an increasingly complex world.
When children are given opportunities to explore, create, collaborate and discover, they develop much more than academic knowledge. They learn how to think, communicate, adapt and persevere.
That is why play-based learning continues to be recognised by educators and researchers as an essential part of effective education. It nurtures not only what children know, but also who they become.
At All Saints Grammar, these principles underpin our approach to early learning. Our PreKinder program is guided by the NSW Education Standards Authority Early Stage One outcomes and inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach. We see every child as capable, curious and confident, and create rich learning environments that encourage exploration, creativity and discovery. Through collaborative relationships, meaningful experiences and the concept of the child’s “100 Languages”, children develop oral language, literacy, numeracy, social skills and emotional regulation in a warm and connected community. Learning takes place through creative play, investigation, explicit teaching, music, movement and hands-on experiences that prepare children for a successful transition to primary school. To learn more about All Saints Grammar’s approach to learning and wellbeing book a small group tour.
