On this episode of Play Matters with Bright Horizons, we learn about how play provides a foundation for success! Claire Goss mentions how we may have heard terms like “Montessori” or “play-based.” At Bright Horizons, they have a unique framework for teaching and learning called “Discovery Driven Learning.” They put children’s discovery at the center of the framework. From finding their fingers and toes to repetitively asking why to wondering how things work, how people feel, and how to learn, children are driven to discover. Bright Horizons nurtures these natural curiosities and pursue these inquiries using a whole-child curriculum. Claire goes on to provide tips on how parents should embrace the mess and allow their kids to use all their five senses to explore!
Show Notes
Kanika (TTMS): This segment is called Play: A Foundation for Success. There is a misconception around play that it’s only about having fun, but there’s more to play than just fun. It also is the first step to help set your child up for success, isn’t that correct?
Claire (BH): Some pediatricians are actually prescribing play to promote better health and development for young children! That’s how important it is. (In fact, the United Nations has enshrined play as a fundamental right of every child.)
Kanika (TTMS): Wow, so we are truly starting to see how important it is to build play into a child’s day
Claire (BH):
- Yes. At Bright Horizons, we prioritize and celebrate play
- Play is preparation for the school-aged years and for life
- Play is an opportunity for children to learn about themselves and others and make sense of their whole world.
Kanika (TTMS): For many parents when they hear play, they think “mess”. Cars everywhere, blocks spilled all over the floor, finger-paint to be cleaned up but you’re saying all play is learning. What are kids learning while making a mess?
Claire (BH): Young children learn everything about everything through their five senses, so they are naturally going to knock things over, spill things, try to put things in their mouths. A lot of the time for young kids, that the messes they’re making IS the learning. What happens when you take the bottom block out from a block tower? There’s only one way to truly learn that! What happens when you take your hands and mix blue and yellow paint together? So on.
Kanika (TTMS): Understanding that learning through play is so important, what should parents look for when considering a child care center to enroll their child in?
Claire (BH): For sure you want to ask what framework or philosophy a child care center uses. You might hear terms like “Montessori” or “play-based”. At Bright Horizons, we have our own framework for teaching and learning called “Discovery Driven Learning”. We’ve put children’s discovery at the center of the framework. From finding their fingers and toes to repetitively asking why to wondering how things work, how people feel, and how to learn, children are driven to discover. We nurture these natural curiosities and pursue these inquiries using a whole-child curriculum.
PRESS PLAY
Kanika: What’s your takeaway on Play: The Foundation for Success.
Claire (BH): Tip on school readiness Play integrates all types of learning. So when children are playing, they are not only working on language development; they’re working on language, math, science, art, social-emotional development, physical development. It’s all coming together! Embrace the mess and let your kids be the scientists they are.
Kanika (TTMS): Thank you for our chat! This was so enlightening. We’re looking forward to our upcoming segment from Play Matters with Bright Horizons called Encouraging Play: Tangible Takeaways for Parents. Thanks for listening.
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