The power of play – building foundations for lifelong learning in early childhood

Juan Visser, Regional Director, Sub-Saharan Africa, International Education, Cambridge University Press & Assessment.

Ask any preschool teacher and they’ll tell you that their class environment is a vibrant one, filled with the sounds of giggles, games, music, clattering feet, and occasional tears. Is it overwhelming? Yes, sometimes. But this bustle of play-based activity is the essential ingredient to childhood learning.

Giving children a strong start

The first few years of a child’s life are critical, because this is when the brain is developing at its fastest rate, and when children are most receptive to learning. Numerous studies, including the OECD’s International Early Learning and Child Well-being Study, have highlighted the importance of giving children a strong start in the early years to improve their education outcomes and wider wellbeing in later life.

Research also shows that certain characteristics increase the impact of early years provision. One of these is play-based learning, as the International Education group at Cambridge University Press & Assessment identified during the development of its Cambridge Early Years programme.