These anti-play attitudes make it hard for us to feel comfortable with play, for the true nature of play is experimentation and a slow sinking in of life s lessons. Play is an activity that is repeated over and over and over again. Play is practice for good living, but we often feel guilty about encouraging children to play. Many times we can only tolerate activities that seem highly directed to some clear-cut end, with the sure promise of quick results. In order to fully appreciate the benefits of play, we must understand that young children learn in ways that are different from older children and adults.
Young children learn by manipulating, exploring, and experimenting with real materials and objects.
Action and movement characterize learning for young children. They learn best when their physical and emotional needs are met and they feel safe and secure. They are concrete learners who need direct sensory experiences and opportunities to share and relate those experiences with others. They learn best when they are given the opportunity to actively initiate play activities based on new experiences. Various multisensory experiences and materials provide children with the basics for understanding and relating to their world in a way that is comfortable and natural for them.