The Importance of Play-Based and Hands-On Learning in Early Childhood

Children playing a game at a table.

Recent research from The New York Times highlights that boys often start kindergarten less prepared than girls, especially in areas like reading, attention, and self-regulation. Over the last twenty years, kindergarten has shifted towards a more academic focus, emphasizing sitting still and learning math and reading. This change can be difficult for boys, who tend to develop skills like self-control and focus later than girls.

Play-based and hands-on learning offer a natural way to support children’s development. Play helps kids build problem-solving abilities, creativity, motor skills, and emotional regulation by engaging multiple senses and encouraging active participation. These activities also foster social skills and peer interactions. Through play, children learn to communicate, cooperate, take turns, and resolve conflicts—skills that are essential both in school and in life.

Occupational therapists (OTs) understand play as a fundamental occupation for children. This means play is not just a leisure activity but a vital way children explore the world and develop the skills they need. Because of this perspective, OTs use play-based and hands-on methods to support development in areas like fine motor skills, sensory processing, and attention in ways that feel meaningful and engaging for children.

Bringing more play and hands-on learning into early education can help balance academic demands with children’s developmental needs, providing a stronger foundation for future learning.

Overall, play-based learning contributes to a wide range of physical, cognitive, emotional, and social skills that prepare children to succeed in school and beyond. Recognizing the importance of play as an occupation helps ensure that learning supports the whole child in a natural and effective way.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/31/upshot/boys-struggling-kindergarten-school.html