Active learning and play is an essential aspect of early childhood education.  Watch any toddler as they interact with a new toy or activity. They will dump it, turn it around, push all the buttons, and see how fast it can go. Young children learn with all five senses, and the more they can touch, taste, see, hear, smell, and experience things, the more they will learn. 

Young children are natural explorers and use play to learn about how things work. It is why you may find the contents of your bag on the floor or the pots and pans out of the cupboard when you turn your back. Although it may seem like a nuisance to clean up, this kind of active learning is highly beneficial for young children.

Active Learning: Why it is Important in Early Childhood Education 

Active learning means that children engage with the world in their own time and through their real-life experiences. Active learning takes a hands-on approach to learning that engages children’s brains, bodies, and emotions all at the same time. Children are motivated to learn because it is fun, and they are more likely to remember what they have learned. 

Active learning also lets children of different abilities work and learn simultaneously and all at their own pace. There are no set stages or levels to accomplish. The children follow their interests and can take their learning as far as they want to go. This kind of child-centered learning builds confidence, self-respect, and a life-long interest in learning.

Active learning is central to the overall health and well-being of a child. It encourages children to try new things, take risks, and learn from their mistakes. It also promotes independence and responsibility for their own learning and development. This focus on learning instead of achievement helps children to engage with others in an environment of respect.  

Top Ways That a Toddler Benefits from Hands-On Learning

Toddlers learn through experiencing the world. They learn about shapes by holding different objects. They discover how things work together by pulling them apart and putting them back together (or sometime’s not). They learn about the natural world and how things grow by planting seeds, reading about gardens, and eating healthy fresh vegetables. 

Here are some of the ways that a toddler benefits from hand-on learning:

• It’s fun – Young children develop skills more quickly and are eager to learn more when they are having fun. 
• Hands-on learning lets children learn from real-life experiences and interactions – this helps them extend their problem solving and thinking to make connections between what they are learning at a child care campus and their home life.
• It helps develop their creativity and use their imaginations. 
• Hands-on learning encourages engagement with nature and seeks connections with the rest of the world.
• Hands-on learning helps develop and uses all five senses creating a rich and engaging learning experience.
• Hands-on learning develops and engages multiple areas of the brain at the same time. 
• Hands-on learning helps to build fine motor skills, which is a primary focus for early childhood education.
• Hands-on learning builds confidence and a lifelong interest in learning.

Why Vivvi Values Student-Centered Learning

At Vivvi, we want to encourage a child’s natural curiosity about the world around them. This focus means putting the child at the center of their learning and following their interests. Our campuses are designed to foster creativity and curiosity at a child’s level and encourage academic, metacognitive, and physical knowledge and skill development. 

To learn more about our student-centered learning model at Vivvi, contact us. We’re happy to answer any questions you might have or get in touch to schedule a virtual tour of our facilities and meet the whole team.