Play Is the Best Way for Children to Learn
Why play is more than just fun—and how it builds your child’s brain
If you’ve ever watched a child build a block tower, turn a cardboard box into a spaceship, or host a pretend tea party for their stuffed animals, you’ve seen something powerful in action: learning through play.
You may have heard this before—“Play is how kids learn”—but what does that really mean? Is it just a nice idea, or is it backed by science?
Here’s the truth: play is not a break from learning—it is learning.
In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics calls play “essential to development,” and play researcher O. Fred Donaldson famously said,
| “Children learn as they play. Most importantly, in play, children learn how to learn.”
So What Are Kids Learning While They Play?
During play, children are developing:
Cognitive skills: Problem-solving, memory, attention, and creativity
Language and communication: Making up stories, using new words, listening and responding
Emotional skills: Exploring big feelings in safe ways, building resilience
Social skills: Sharing, negotiating, role-playing, and learning cooperation
Early literacy foundations: Pretend play, storytelling, and even playing with sounds (like rhymes or songs) build crucial pre-reading skills
Play Builds the Brain
When children engage in unstructured, imaginative play, they’re literally forming new connections in the brain. It’s like a workout for their thinking, talking, and feeling muscles. Whether they’re pretending to run a store, turning rocks into cupcakes, or reenacting a story you just read together, they’re developing:
Focus and self-regulation
Imagination and narrative thinking
Empathy and emotional awareness
Confidence and problem-solving abilities
How Caregivers Can Support Learning Through Play
You don’t need fancy toys or elaborate setups to help your child learn through play. In fact, the best kinds of play are often the simplest:
Give time and space for unstructured play—let your child lead the way
Join in sometimes! Follow their imagination and play along
Offer open-ended materials like blocks, dress-up clothes, or art supplies
Limit screen time so your child has more time to explore, create, and connect
Use play as a tool for connection—laugh, talk, and bond together
Let’s Make Room for Play
Every block stacked, every silly voice, every made-up adventure—these are not just cute moments. They are brain-building, heart-growing, life-preparing experiences. 💛
So instead of asking, “Are they learning enough?”
Let’s ask, “Have they played today?”
Because through play, they’re doing both.
