environments and purposeful tools which integrate play into the education system . This task is significantly tougher in a country like India where the focus on education was successful replication of knowledge rather than application and innovation . This pressure to succeed leads to learners resorting to rote-memorize data than to understand the underlying concepts . This takes a huge toll on innovation , creativity and a severe dearth of skills in society . As Abraham Maslow rightly puts it , “ Almost all creativity involves purposeful play .”
Learning through play is as old as human knowledge and culture itself . Play is intrinsic to almost all human endeavors : in law , science , war , philosophy , and in the arts . Extensive research has been carried out to determine how play helps define our ability to learn . A famous case study , ‘ Learning to Play , Playing to Learn ’, says that Play exemplifies one of the highest forms of experiential learning and can promote deep learning in the intellectual , physical , spiritual , and moral realms [ 1 ]. It goes on to add that despite the common perception of play as the “ antithesis of work ” it can contribute to experiential learning in a few ways [ 1 ]:
• By supporting learners to take charge of their own learning .
• By being able to take part in the process of learning and control its standards .
Traditionally parents were content with their children acquiring degrees and success within the classroom . Over time parents have increasingly begun to realise the disconnect between the education system and the real world . The rise of unschooling and homeschooling in India has been a result of the need of imparting practical knowledge and relevant skills over theoretical learning .
This once gradual shift has been greatly accelerated by the global pandemic . As the learning shifted from classrooms to homes it also shifted the onus from teachers to parents to oversee their kids ’ education . Parents began to see firsthand what their children were learning and , more importantly , how they were learning . Not only were children struggling with fundamentals and applying requisite knowledge but also were averse to the process of learning , often deeming it dull and mundane .
A recent survey [ 2 ] backs this hypothesis noting there is a certain shift in the Indian mind-set , especially the millennial parents . They find experiential learning combined with gamification as the best way for making their kids ‘ future
• By improving retention of knowledge and outcomes through repeated cycles of learning .
The benefits of play to our overall well-being are slowly being researched and revealed . It is undoubtedly in the early years that its rewards are prolific and enduring . Researchers , educators and parents around the world are beginning to accept that high quality play based learning can :
• Improve Cognition
• Improve memory and organizational abilities
• Teach children essential 21st century skills
• Encourage creativity , critical thinking
• Enhance emotional well-being and empathy
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Page 14 | Kids India E-Magazine - March 2022