How Play Supports Brain Development in Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers - post

When you watch children play, what do you see?

You might see joy, energy, and maybe a little bit of a mess! It looks like simple fun. But underneath all that fun, something amazing is happening.

Play is serious work for a child’s brain. It is the very best way for young children to learn.

Think of the brain like a house being built. In the first five years of life, the foundation of that house is being laid. Every time a child plays, they are adding bricks and mortar to that foundation. They are making connections that will help them think, feel, and move for the rest of their lives.

Play is not a break from learning. Play is learning.

How does the brain grow during play?

A baby is born with billions of brain cells. But these cells are not connected yet. When a child experiences something new, two brain cells connect. This connection is called a synapse.

Play creates these connections very fast. When a child stacks a block, a connection is made. When they sing a song, another connection is made. When they pretend to be a dinosaur, many connections light up at once! 

The more a child plays, the stronger these connections become. This process supports #healthy #braindevelopment and prepares them for future learning in school.

How do babies build their brains through play?

For infants (birth to 12 months), play is very sensory. It is about seeing, hearing, touching, and tasting. Babies are scientists. They are constantly testing the world around them.

When a baby drops a spoon from their high chair, they are not trying to be naughty. They are learning about gravity and cause-and-effect. They learn, "If I drop this, it makes a loud noise, and someone picks it up."

Simple play that builds baby brains:

• Serve and Return: This is one of the most important interactions. The baby coos or smiles (the "serve"), and you smile and talk back (the "return"). This builds connections for language and bonding.
• Tummy Time: Reaching for toys during tummy time builds strong neck and back muscles. It also helps the two sides of the brain work together.
• Sensory Exploration: Letting babies safely touch different textures (soft blankets, bumpy toys) helps their brains map out their environment.

To learn more about setting up the perfect environment for our littlest learners, check out the ChildCareEd course: Playful Spaces for Infants & Toddlers.

What are #toddlers learning when they play?

Toddlers (ages 1 to 3) are busy! their play is active and often noisy. They are learning how their bodies work and how to control objects.

Toddler play is also when imagination begins to blossom. You might see a toddler pick up a banana and pretend it is a telephone. This is a huge leap in brain development! It means they understand symbols—that one thing can stand for another thing. This is the very beginning skill needed for reading later on.

How toddler play supports growth:

• Dumping and Filling: Toddlers love to dump toys out of a bucket and put them back in. This teaches them about space, volume, and counting.
• Big Body Play: Running, climbing, and jumping help build gross motor skills. This physical activity also gets blood flowing to the brain, which helps them focus.
• Simple Pretend Play: Pretending to feed a doll or drive a car helps toddlers understand daily routines and practice empathy.

How does play help preschoolers get ready for school?

For preschoolers (ages 3 to 5), play becomes more social and complex. They start playing with other children, not just next to them.

This is where they learn vital social-emotional skills. They learn how to negotiate ("You be the mommy, I'll be the baby"), how to take turns, and how to handle frustration when things don't go their way. These skills are just as important for kindergarten readiness as knowing their ABCs.

Preschool play that builds smart brains:

• Dramatic Play: Playing "restaurant" or "doctor's office" requires children to plan, take on roles, and remember rules. This builds executive function skills, which help them manage tasks and pay attention.
• Building and Constructing: Using blocks or Legos helps children understand #math concepts like balance, symmetry, and geometry. It also teaches problem-solving if their tower falls down.
• Creative Arts: Drawing, painting, and using playdough strengthens fine motor muscles in the hands. These are the same muscles needed for writing with a pencil.

If you want to dive deeper into creating great learning activities for this age group, the ChildCareEd course Play, Learn, Grow Online Version is an excellent resource. 

What is the role of the adult?

Your job isn't to control the play. Your job is to set the stage. You provide the safe space, the interesting materials, and the time.

Sometimes, the best thing you can do is sit back and observe. Watch what the children are interested in. If they love dinosaurs right now, add some dinosaur books to the reading corner.

You can also support their #learningthroughplay by asking open-ended questions. Instead of saying, "That's a nice blue house," ask, "Tell me about what you are building." This encourages them to use new words and think deeper about their play.

A great tool to help you observe where children are in their development is the Developmental Milestones Checklist, a #free resource available from ChildCareEd.

Conclusion

Play is the superfood of #earlychildhood education. It nourishes the brain in ways that worksheets and flashcards never could. By giving children plenty of time and space to play every day, you are giving them the best possible start in life. You are helping them build a brain that is ready to learn, solve problems, and connect with others.

For more reading on this topic, check out the ChildCareEd article: The Power of Play in Early Childhood Education.

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