Why do children learn best through play?

For young children, play isn’t, and shouldn't be, a break from learning - it is the way they learn.

When we hear the word 'learning', we often imagine children sat down at desks, concentrating, or being taught something directly whilst they listen. However, young children’s brains actually develop in a very different way, and their learning happens through movement, exploration, repetition, and curiosity. In other words, they learn through their play.

What play actually teaches children

When children play, they are constantly testing ideas about the world around them. They stack blocks to see how high they can go before they fall. They fill and empty containers again and again to understand concepts like volume and gravity, without even knowing it's those terms that they're investigating. They act out everyday experiences through imaginative play in order to begin to make sense of the world they live in.

These playful moments may look simple on the surface, but they are deeply important for development.

Through play, children develop the foundations for many of the skills they will need later in life.

They build language as they talk, narrate and communicate during play. They develop problem-solving skills as they figure out how things work. Their physical development grows stronger as they climb, balance, pour and manipulate objects. Social skills begin to develop as they play alongside and then with others.

Play also allows children to learn at their own pace. They're innately wired to seek opportunities to develop the skills they need in the way their brain needs to build them. Play also gives children the freedom to repeat experiences as many times as they need to. Repetition helps strengthen their brain's connections in order to build and secure understanding.

One of the most important aspects of play is that it is self-directed. When children choose their own play, they are far more engaged and motivated to explore. This deep engagement is where meaningful learning happens.

How adults can support play

As adults, our role is not to constantly direct or structure children’s play. Instead, we can support and facilitate learning by providing the right environment, resources, and time for play to unfold naturally.

It also means recognising that not every learning moment needs to look structured or academic. A child pouring water between containers, building a tower of blocks, or pretending to cook in a play kitchen is developing important skills that will support future learning.

In the early years, the foundations for all areas of learning are all built through play.

When we understand this, it becomes much easier to trust that our child is learning exactly what they need, through the simple act of exploring the world around them.

Inside the Know & Play Membership, we explore how children develop through play at each stage from newborn through to preschool, helping parents understand how to support learning through everyday experiences and purposeful play.