Through a wonderful format for a FREE conference, Holly Peretz OT hosted four days of content that could either be watched with video or listened to in a podcast format. The podcast episodes can be accessed HERE, though they are only accessible through the VIP ticket at this time, which is very worth it for therapists and educators in Early Childhood Education! Cari Ebert is a big name in the speech-language pathology world, so hearing her speak for free is a big deal! Her knowledge and expertise on the topic of neuroscience and play-based learning are inspiring, and through this podcast, she has simplified the topic while still giving enough information.
Cari starts the presentation by directing listeners to Harvard's Center on the Developing Child and its expansive resource library. She then discusses how important the first few years of life are for building neural connections. So, what is the best way for children to build these neural connections? Through experience and play! My favorite phrase Cari coined in this podcast was referring to early childhood educators as "Brain architects." How amazing to think that the experiences we provide our young learners can truly help to build their brains! The emphasis on play-based learning and experiences, of course, brought up the concern of technology. The use of screens in our homes is nearly impossible, and expecting parents to never use screens is not fair to anyone. We need to focus on increasing those play-based experiences and making the most of the time we have away from screens. The question Cari asked that has stuck with me in the weeks since listening to this podcast is, "How many nonscreen experiences did my child have today?" I hope all parents and educators can name at least a few daily. She goes on to emphasize the importance of hands-on minds-on learning. Cari ends this episode by identifying the five components of play-based learning.
She explains that 1. Play is joyful. We need our learning experiences to be joyful because the brain produces more dopamine. More dopamine = enhanced memory, attention, and mental shifting causing intrinsic motivation. The second component is 2. Play is meaningful. According to Cari, play becomes meaningful when students can link a new experience to a familiar one. Building connections allows students to develop deeper learning and understanding. She attributes rote memorization to the surface of the iceberg, while there are so many concepts to understand under the surface. Component 3. Play is actively engaging. This active engagement drives the development of executive functioning skills such as focusing even with distractions present, decision-making, and problem-solving. 4. Play is iterative (repetitive). This allows children to improve their outcomes so that they can do things faster or more accurately. The final component of play-based learning 5. Play is socially interactive. Social interactions activate brain networks related to understanding how others feel which is EMPATHY. Empathy allows children to build stronger relationships and allows them to work on emotional regulation.
Play-based learning is an evidence-based approach to learning that aids children in social connections, emotional regulation, and executive functioning skills. Our early learners, who are in their primary years of building neural connections, depend on us to be their "brain architects" and provide them with play-based experiences for learning.
