“Play is the highest form of research” – Albert Einstein
At Little Learners we offer children a wide range of activities and toys such as cars, toy animals, bricks, trains, games, material for role play, books, puzzles and crafting materials.
Two types of play are significant to the Little Learners team. We differentiate between child-initiated and adult-initiated play.
In child initiated-play children make their own decision what they would like to play with. They choose the material and how they would like 
to use it. Children also choose where and with whom they want to play with as they may also choose to play alone. There are many benefits in child-initiated play.
Confidence
By allowing children to make their own choice, they will gain confidence in themselves.
Concentration
Generally children show higher levels of concentration during self-chosen play.
Creativity and Imagination
During crafting activities children often choose to combine materials. Combing glue with glitter or sticking recycled material together, painting over them and adding some cotton at the end. There are no limits to their imagination. Children develop the best creativity skills when making their own choices.
Perseverance
Once the children chose an activity they tend to concentrate longer to achieve their goal.
In adult-led play the teacher or childminder decides what skills, concepts or knowledge the children might need for a healthy development. So the activities are organized and prepared for the children. There are also benefits in adult-led play.
- Adult-led play is important as it gives children the chance to explore new materials, resources, ideas and concepts they may not gain alone.
- Children gain social skills through adult-led play as the teacher may allocated them into small groups or pairs. Particular social skills such as sharing, or cooperating can be practiced during play.
- Children gain language skills through adult-led play as the prepared activities focus on speech development. The teacher’s approach and teaching skills play an important role too.
Andy – Group Leader Preschool