Many people wonder "how do children learn through play? Why is in depth quality play so important? Children learn about themselves and the world around them.

Play promotes

• Safe secure relationships 
• Language, communication and symbolism 
• Physical development 
• Problem solving and cognitive skills
• Healthy emotional skills: self- esteem and self-confidence Healthy social skills: self- regulation and role paly
• Empowerment
• Empathy
• Ability to understand fantasy and reality
• Fun and adventure
• Creativity/ Imagination (current research suggests that this is the most sought after skill by employers in the job market)

Dramatic Play

• Develop problem solving skills
• Demonstrate planning skills
• Practice classification skills
• Enhance creative/ imaginative powers
• Apply knowledge to new situations
• Refine social skills 
• Build relationships
• Develop self –understanding
• Learn to cooperate
• Develop a positive self- image
• Improve hand eye coordination
• Improve fine motor skills
• Refine visual discrimination

Table Toys

• Enhance creative/ imaginative powers
• Learn concepts such as color size and shape
• Sequence and classify in logical ways
• Learn number concepts
• Develop matching and pairing skills
• Learn to cooperate
• Build relationships
• Develop self-discipline and self-esteem
• Persist to complete tasks
• Learn and develop risk taking skills
• Improve hand eye coordination
• Improve fine motor skills
• Refine visual discrimination
• Establish reading readiness skills

Art

• Enhance creative/ imaginative powers
• Learn about cause and effect
• Recognize colors, shapes, and textures
• Enhance capabilities in planning, organizing and carrying out tasks
• Express thoughts and ideas though creative expression (artwork)
• Express feelings through creative expression (artwork)
• Take pride in accomplishments
• Express individuality
• Demonstrate increased small motor skills
• Refine hand eye coordination

Blocks

• Develop problem solving skills
• Enhance creative/ imaginative powers
• Develop an understanding of scientific and physical concepts
• Learn basic math concepts
• Develop reading readiness skills
• Persevere at tasks
• Act independently and make choices
• Express feelings in socially acceptable ways
• Learn to cooperate
• Learn to respect materials
• Experience pride in accomplishment
• Demonstrate muscular control and coordination
• Refine hand eye coordination
• Develop visual perception

Sand and Water

• Enhance creative/ imaginative powers
• Understand cause and effect
• Develop scientific inquiry skills
• Refine problem solving skills
• Learn basic math concepts: volume, conservation, measuring and comparing
• Learn to play cooperatively with others
• Develop group social skills
• Develop persistence
• Explore social roles and relationships
• Learn to deal with fears and problems
• Strengthen fine motor control
• Enhance eye hand coordination
• Refine visual discrimination

Puzzles

• Increase problem solving skills
• Improve memory skills
• Build spatial perception and awareness
• Recognize colors, shapes, and textures
• Persist at tasks 
• Develop vocabulary
• Build literacy skills
• Increase muscle control and coordination
• Enhance eye hand coordination
• Refine visual discrimination