How Play Supports School Readiness

What comes to mind when you hear the term “school readiness”? You might think of making sure your preschooler can recite the alphabet or your first grader can solve simple math problems. Although important, school readiness involves much more than academic knowledge. While it is often viewed simply as a way to have fun, play gives children opportunities to develop important skills that support their growth and learning. 

1.      Play Helps Children Focus and Remember  

When it comes to school readiness, attention and working memory help children use and retain what they learn. These skills are important not only for following directions, completing tasks, and studying for tests, but also for applying knowledge in everyday life. 

Play presents children with opportunities to use the executive-function skill of working memory and focus their attention in a context that is naturally enjoyable. There are several types of play activities that require children to pay attention and to remember and use information. Examples include:

• Babies and Toddlers: Pat-a-Cake, peekaboo, imitation games 

• Preschoolers: Matching games, Simon Says, hide-and-seek

• Early Elementary: Board games, card games, and puzzles

2.   Working Through Playtime Challenges Builds Perseverance 

As your child grows, they will learn new concepts and skills. While there will be some that they grasp immediately, others may require more practice, patience, or extra support. Challenges may arise when practicing fine motor skills, learning to read, or even when completing homework assignments. Having the perseverance to work through difficulties can help children continue learning and growing.

Play can support school readiness by providing a low-stakes way for children to experience challenges and practice perseverance. For example, your child may want to build a tower, but the blocks keep falling. In moments like this, caregivers can support their child’s  perseverance through play by:

• Encouraging them to try again

• Acknowledging their effort and progress

• Suggesting they take a short break if frustrated and return to the activity later

3.      Both Playtime and School Require Problem-Solving and Creativity

While at play or at school, children are often trying to achieve a goal. Using our tower building example, a child may realize their approach isn’t working after several attempts. Problem-solving skills and creativity help them brainstorm ways that they can achieve their goal. 

Questions you can ask your child during play to encourage their problem-solving and creative thinking include:

• Why do you think that didn’t work?

• What else can we try?

• What do you think we should try next?

In school, problem-solving skills can make it easier for children to outline an essay or solve a math equation. Creative thinking skills help children come up with ideas, write stories, or explain concepts in different ways.

4.       Play Helps Children Practice Social Skills That Are Essential for School Readiness

 In school, social skills help children follow directions, work on group projects, make friends, and much more. Different types of play involve many aspects of social skills. Games like Mother May I or board games are great ways for children to practice taking turns. When children engage in imaginative play together, they may develop skills in communicating ideas, listening and incorporating the ideas of others, and negotiating.

Caregivers can support children’s social skills by guiding them in working through disagreements. Some ways that parents can help children through disagreements include:

• Having each child explain how they feel 

• Asking each child what they think would be fair

• Encouraging the children to combine their ideas

5.       The Role of Physical Skill Development in School

The connection between physical development and school readiness is perhaps more immediately clear than in other areas. Active or gross-motor play can build core strength, which helps children sit upright. One study found that postural balance under different sensory conditions may predict both gross- and fine-motor skills in children ages 5-6.

Fine-motor play activities give children opportunities to improve several abilities, including using both hands together, hand-eye coordination, hand control and dexterity, and finger strength. In the classroom, fine-motor skills are needed when writing and using scissors, for example.

Fine-motor play activities include: 

• Finger painting

• Playing with play dough

• Threading beads

Play can be messy, creative, fun, educational, challenging, and so much more. At its heart, play gives children a way to explore and make sense of the world around them. Through play, children can practice academic skills like naming animals, counting, and recognizing shapes, while also developing important life skills. When children play with others, use their imaginations, and solve problems, they are learning how to communicate, collaborate, think creatively, and navigate challenges. Play can support the development of academic skills, life skills, or a little bit of both - building skills that help children thrive in school and throughout life.