Children love to play. They gather together with toys and fun games that keep them energetic and active. Yet, there's more to playing than meets the eye. In fact, playing can actually help your child to learn, and at PlayTogether NYC, there are a number of ways to get them involved.
Circle Time
Most teachers begin the day with circle time as a way of organizing children and preparing them for the day. This activity includes music appreciation, group sing-alongs and creative movement. At PlayTogether NYC, as a group, children sing the welcome song to say hello to each other which is a key element in helping them transition from home to the play-based school atmosphere. This offers the opportunity for the youngsters to learn how to talk about their daily experiences with shared knowledge, and then listen to a story based on themes discussed.
Cooperative Play/Small Groups
While children may sometimes play by themselves, cooperative play, small groups and the amount of cooperative play increases as the children interact with others. Small groups allow children to focus on the development of their visual perception and the beginning of letter recognition and associations. Whether it's on a block building activity or learning the Itchy Alphabet, children can enhance their visual perception, social competence and learn to respect the ideas of others. This activity also offers a rich curriculum that integrates sounds and pictures to enhance letter learning, problem solving and working together to find a solution.
The Fundamentals in Art Projects
Art can be tons of fun when children are working on something that they enjoy. Some art projects are part of a theme that the class is studying and a good art project teaches a child that their creativity is limited only by their own imagination. At PlayTogether NYC, themes and colors are all part of the process. When children transform everyday objects into sculptures, imaginary bugs or spyglasses, children discover that they can recreate the world.
Art projects can also be a great way to develop a child's fine motor skills and build self-esteem. Using materials in an art project reinforces and expands on the information a child has already learned in other contexts, and through trial and error, just like the scientist in a lab, the student might find a better way of creating projects and figuring out solutions for the best way to execute them. In addition to this, manipulation of clay, cutting with scissors, painting with a brush and using markers or crayons involve small-muscle control and practice is the best way to develop their skills. PlayTogether NYC also allows for creative exploration and supports sensory integration for overall development.
Music Development
The best thing about music is that while children may be engulfed in beats, rhythms and the overall musical experience, they might be unaware that they are actually learning. With PlayTogether NYC, music time allows children to play with instruments in a fun atmosphere that introduces them to musical language, theory, playing and singing. During the lessons, children will learn musical songs and games, note recognition, music reading, rhythmic movements, singing, pitch retention and familiarity with percussion instruments. Children will also learn how to play together while learning life-long lessons with music.
Learning Through Free-Play Activities
One of the most important components of preschool education is the idea of how free play can help children learn. PlayTogether NYC is the only preschool that allows for a dynamic educational experience for little ones through a play-based curriculum. Free play is actually a planned activity for kids that allows them the freedom to choose among many different activities, but the teacher has created the classroom environment and arranged the choices they find. Free play is not time off for the teacher, but rather any opportunity for children to learn decision making while being aided by their teacher, social interaction with other children and identification of competencies, progess and difficulties. In this way, the teacher can be aware of what works for each individual child and aide them in progress and development.
PlayTogether NYC is the best place for preschool children to learn new skills, enhance their educational experience and develop social skills that they can use in years to come. For parents who want their children to learn a little bit of everything while playing in an environment that is friendly and welcoming, let PlayTogether help your child become the best that they can be with learning through interactive play.
