Hands-on activities are at the heart of our Play-Based School’s philosophy. We firmly believe that children learn best when they can touch, manipulate, and explore the world around them. We use this strategy from early daycare (children as young as 18 months) to preschool and up to kindergarten. Let’s dive into the wonderful world of hands-on activities and discover the countless benefits they offer.

Hands-on activities are not just about fun and games, although they are certainly enjoyable. These activities are powerful tools for fostering holistic development in young children. Here’s why they matter:

1. Active Learning: Hands-on activities engage multiple senses, allowing children to actively explore concepts, objects, and materials. This active engagement enhances their understanding and retention of information.
2. Problem-Solving Skills: Hands-on activities often present challenges and problems for children to solve. Whether it’s building structures, creating art, or experimenting with substances like playdough and slime, these activities encourage critical thinking and problem-solving.
3. Creativity and Imagination: Manipulating materials in hands-on activities provides children with a canvas for their imagination. They can build, sculpt, and create according to their own ideas and visions.
4. Fine Motor Skills: Many hands-on activities involve intricate movements, such as shaping playdough, cutting paper, or manipulating small objects. These actions help develop fine motor skills, which are crucial for tasks like writing and drawing.
5. Social Skills: Hands-on activities often encourage collaboration and interaction with peers. Children learn to share, cooperate, communicate, and negotiate during these activities.
6. Sensory Exploration: Many hands-on activities involve sensory elements. Whether it’s the texture of playdough, the squishiness of slime, or the feel of building materials, children are encouraged to explore their senses.

Exploring Hands-On Activities at Our Play-Based School

Our Play-Based School offers a wide array of hands-on activities that provide all the benefits mentioned above. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most popular ones:

1. Playdough: Playdough is a versatile material that allows children to mold, shape, and create to their heart’s content. It’s not just about fun; it helps develop fine motor skills, creativity, and imagination.
2. Slime: Slime-making is a favorite among children. It’s not just gooey fun; it’s also a science experiment in disguise. Children learn about mixing substances, observing chemical reactions, and exploring different textures.
3. Building Clocks: Building and assembling clocks is a fantastic way to introduce basic concepts of time and mathematics. It’s a hands-on way to understand how clocks work and how we measure time.
4. Art and Craft: From painting and drawing to collage making and crafting, our art activities are all about self-expression, creativity, and developing fine motor skills.
5. Building Structures: Building with blocks, Legos, or other construction materials not only fosters creativity but also teaches basic principles of engineering and physics.
6. Nature Exploration: Children have the opportunity to explore the natural world, whether it’s through planting seeds, observing insects, or creating art from found objects.

By incorporating these hands-on activities into our curriculum, we create an environment where learning is a dynamic, exciting, and deeply engaging experience. We invite you to join us on this journey of exploration, creativity, and discovery at our Play-Based School, where the world of hands-on activities opens doors to a lifetime of learning and growth.

We work with parents so that children go home full of energy and knowledge, and then offer helpful tips to help the learning environment continue throughout the day. Whether it’s daycare, preschool, or kindergarten, reach out to explore options in our Pleasant Hill campus!