Learning Through Play

Imagination and creativity—ideas—arise from having time to think, to ponder and reflect, or just let the mind go.

Can a classroom truly act as a co‑teacher? Designer and educator Robert Dillon shares practical ways to create environments that invite children to explore, collaborate, and grow.

Children have a hardwired mechanism to deal with trauma: play, and in particular, pretend/dramatic play.

What might a decades‑old nursery school—with some of its original playthings still in use—teach us about how children truly learn?

The outdoors offers a unique environment for children to develop critical literacy and phonic development.

Children learn and build skills through play schemas. Educators can support this by designing environments and curriculum that build and support these patterns.

What is the importance of play, and how can teachers foster joyful play in their classrooms?

Discover how emergent curriculum fosters the development of early literacy and math skills through child-led, interest-based learning.

Discover how dramatic play helps young children build social and emotional skills, with expert tips from Kelly Hantak and Sarah Grissom on how teachers can effectively support it.

Shira B Kulok lays out the key roles that a teacher should fill, when implementing an emergent curriculum approach.

Sara Ruiz, a toddler teacher with two decades of experience, shares her wisdom on the importance of allowing children ample time, carefully curating play environments, and embracing the benefits of outdoor play.