Learning through play

It was a sunny morning, as usually at 9:30 am children had their activity time in the yard. There was a joyful buzz. A white bristol sheet was spread across the length of the patio. The kids sat on either side of it, in their colourful painter's aprons, waving their paintbrushes. They were having fun doing it. They painted a plan of the village, while learning about colours by mixing paints. In another corner, Mrs Cecilia sat with a group of older children and taught them how to make recycled toys. The result of this exercise was a doll house made from a mineral water box. At the same time the toddler class, together with Mr Joseph, were building a huge palace out of blocks, place which they had heard about during one of the lessons on the history of the village. One might wonder what can children learn through playing? The answer is obvious: everything, because it is the easiest way to convey knowledge.Many pre-school children do not attend learning activities in the countryside because it is too financially challenging for their parents, and we often hear that they 'only play' with us, so that is what they can do when running around the village.
The Janusz Korczak Kindergarten is an exception because we are available to every child, regardless of the economic status of the family.

Parents often do not realise that all kinds of children's playtime develop the skills necessary for success in school and later in life. There is no better way than to have fun together to find out how a child is functioning cognitively, socially and emotionally. The time a child spends playing helps, for instance, to assess how he or she copes with failure and winning, how they fit into a group and what social roles they take on. The more varied and complex the rules, the more mental processes the child has to engage in. Looking at play and fun in this way, we see its enormous educational value. We are delighted to see our teachers with their open minds and hearts going beyond the beaten track, allowing children to experience, discover, and try out learning through playtime in its many forms.

Thank you also for supporting, amongst other things, teacher training courses that equip them with the necessary tools to make their working practices even more effective.