To Study the Importance of Learning by Playing

Learn by fun

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Learn by Fun

Contents
To Study the Importance of Learning by Playing ......................................................................................... 3
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 4
Value of Learning by Fun: ........................................................................................................................ 6
Data Collection and Data Analysis: .............................................................................................................. 7
Commonalities and Contradiction in the Responses of the Respondent:.................................................. 7
Conclusion: ................................................................................................................................................. 10
Limitations of the Study: ............................................................................................................................ 10
References ................................................................................................................................................... 11
Appendix ..................................................................................................................................................... 12

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To Study the Importance of Learning by Playing

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Introduction
Learning through play is an important process associated with a childs life. It is a process, how
it learns from its surrounding and keeps itself busy in exploring and earning experiences. By this
learning they overcome their fear and feel safe and secure.
As while playing the child do many things such as crawling, running, climbing, balancing, etc. to
reach its toys and other objects so, by playing the child enhanced its creativity and also becomes
healthy. (Bruce, 2012)
In the book Einstein Never Used Flash Cards, five elements of childrens play are listed:
i.

Play must be pleasurable and enjoyable.

ii.

Play must have no extrinsic goals; there is no prescribed learning that must occur.

iii.

Play is spontaneous and voluntary.

iv.

Play involves active engagement on the part of the player.

v.

Play involves an element of make-believe.

For children play is a medium to learn with fun while for elders play acts as a source of
relaxation for the body and the brain. Playing is a fun way by which one may develop his
imagination power and abilities to solve the problems (Kemp, Smith & Segal, 2012)
Though playing is associated with the learning but children only play when they find pleasure in
it. They never play with an intention to learn but just to have pleasure. Children not only learn
while playing but also while doing work. But, work and play are different from each other. The
play is self-generated interest of a child while Work is assigned to children either by their
parents, elders or teachers.
There are many theories associated with the childs learning by fun and some of them are as
follows:
1. Classical Theories:
The classical theories of play are further sub-divided as follow:
1.1. Surplus energy theory:

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It is based on believe that there is some surplus energy in our body which is not
necessary for the survival. So, that surplus energy one must use for playing.
1.2. Relaxation theory:
Relaxation theory is based on the fact that by playing one gets relaxed and its stress is
lowered down up to large extent.
1.3. Preparation or Practice theory:
Preparation theory aims at preparing one for its life by teaching him about how to follow
rules and how to perform in team.
1.4. Recapitulation theory:
Learning by fun is not direct learning instead it is indirect learning i.e. when we perform
something the series of activities rebuild from our history and we are perform better
without repeating our mistakes.
1.5. Cathartic theory:
This theory is a kind of healing process. This theory is based on the premises that we
play so that we can express our excruciating emotions in a way which is not harmful for
others and also make us cool, calm and composed.
1.6. Compensation theory:
Our day-to-day life consist of many repetitive jobs which may make us feel worldweariness so this theory emphasis that this boredom can easily overcome by playing.
And playing is always coupled with the learning.
1.7. Competence theory:
This theory states that play and work are not apart from each other and also that all
human beings need to intermingle with the environment.
All these theories are interrelated. Play may act as the source for motivation and can be used by
managers to understand its employees and team members in much enhanced manner. (Krumpe,
2007)
2. Contemporary Theories:

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The contemporary theories are based on the premises that we play in the society so play is
associated with the social awareness. Therefore, they get prepared for the social environment and
also get knowledge of living in the society.
The contemporary theories are further sub-divided as follows:
2.1. Psycho-analytic
2.2. Arousal modulation
2.3. Meta-communicative
There are many other theories also such as cognitive theory and many other modern theories
bring into being by many philosophers, such as:
The development of the child is highly influenced by the person and its surrounding like family,
neighbors, community in which they are brought-up and even the society. Urie
Bronfenbrenner.
Value of Learning by Fun:
Play acts as an essential way by which children learn about the society. Children must play alone
as well with other children so that they become societal and learn how to perform in team. There
are many things which children learn by fun and they are mentioned below:
By playing children learn to explore the world and their skills are also improved.
Children become creative and innovative by playing.
Playing helps children to learn, how to use their imaginations.
Playing in group teaches us to share our possessions and to be competent. Also, we learn
about how to perform in a team.
Play keeps us busy, active and happy.
Children by playing learn how to express their feelings and emotions.
Playing in group or with the elders also help child in improving their language skills.
During play the child learn about problem solving which results in the increase of brain
development.
Learning by fun approach results in the cognitive development of the young children.

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Data Collection and Data Analysis:

The below data is collected from two respondents Catherine Williams and Helen George. The
Catherine Williams is the mother of a 5 years old baby and the Helen George is the mother of a
5.5 years old baby. The following listed questions were asked to both the respondents and they
were asked to opt for an option corresponding to the related questions. The questions and the
options are listed in the appendix and the responses of Catherine and the Helen were as follows:
Questions
1.
Do you believe that playing is always associated with the learning?
2.
Do you and your child take interest in playing?
3.
Can you check any kind of development in you and your child after
playing?
4.
Do you feel that children learn quick and better with elders?
5.
Do you play with your child?
6.
Does your child get bored when you play with him in the same
manner?
7.
Do you yourself sometime get fed-up playing with your child?
8.
Do you think that play prepare us for our adult life?
9.
Do you motivate your child to play?
10. What is your purpose to make him play?
11. Do you think that learning is affected by our surrounding?
12. Do you find learning from play to be useful in physical, emotional and
social areas?
13. Do you sometime stop your child from playing?
14. Do you feel that learning from playing sometimes misleads the
learning?

Catherine
Yes
Yes
Yes

Helen
Yes
Yes
Yes

Yes
Yes
Yes

No
Yes
Yes

Yes
Yes
No
Both
Yes
Yes

No
Yes
Yes
Both
Yes
Yes

Yes
Yes

No
Yes

Commonalities and Contradiction in the Responses of the Respondent:

From questions 1, 2 and 3 it can be interpreted that both the parents believe that learning is
strongly associated with the playing. Playing plays an important role in our growth and
development. It teaches us about various factors which help us to live our life in better way.
Also, the push for playing is within oneself i.e. they and their children have self-interest for
playing.
It is being revealed from the response of Catherine that playing is worthy for children if they
play with elders as elders can make them learn fast and in the easy way. But, Helen says that the
children can learn in better way if they play alone as they will be able to learn in better if they
will face the problem themselves and will find solution for these problems.
From the above responses it is also being revealed that both the parents takes immense pleasure
in playing with their child but, may sometimes get fed-up of playing. Catherine states that she is
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too much fascinated towards playing and she likes to play in different ways with children. As
child may feel boredom if consistently played in the same way.
Helen states that she is never fed-up of playing with children. While Catherine states that she
sometime gets fed-up of playing with children. The parents sometimes are fed-up of playing as
play may be interpreted in some other way by the adults while the child may interpret it in some
other way. (Childhood education report, 2012)
It is very true that play prepare us to face all the obstacles smartly, whichever may come in our
path. The Bronfenbrenners theory of play is also reflected in the response as both the
respondents share their experiences and say that the learning from playing is very much affected
by the environment in which they are brought-up.
Mrs. Williams and Mrs. George share their experiences of playing and say that playing plays an
important role in our learning and even in the decision making. They said that the games they
had played in their childhood help them in day to day life in various ways. Both of them also
stated that the way of playing keeps changing.
It is also been revealed that other than schools there is no major changes in the playing methods
particularly for the children who belong to the age group of 0-5 years. But, in schools the ways
of playing are progressing and innovative ways are being used to make children understood
about the learning which they must have from playing.
It is also been revealed that child takes immense pleasure in playing only if it does not seems to
him boring. Playing is natural and intentional and is not forced by parents or teachers. Playing
helps the child to express his feelings and emotions. Also, playing helps the child in overcoming
his fear.
There is no special encouragement needed for playing i.e. children are self-motivated for playing
especially in the area in which they are sure of performing well. (Dixon, 2007)
Both the parents up to a large extent agree to the various classical theories such as the surplus
energy theory, competent theory, relaxation theory, etc. it can be interpreted by the responses of
the Catherine and the Helen that they asked their child to play so that the surplus energy of their
child can be used up by keeping him busy in some activities.
Both the Helen and the Catherine agrees that it is very important for them to keep their child
busy as, idle mind is devils workshop. So they want their child to be busy in playing so that their
children are not left idle and also by this the surplus energy of the child is used up.
It is very obvious that learning is very important in our life. Playing is not only important for the
children but also plays a major role in the overall development of a human being. Adults also
take interest in playing for many reasons such as; they feel active and alive after playing.

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According to relaxation classical theory of playing we also feel relax after plying. In the present
scenario the life of a human being is quite stressful and this stress can easily be lightened up by
playing. (Kemp, Smith & Segal, 2012)
It is also been revealed that the play lend a hand to be competent in this world. It also makes us
learn that we must not lose the hope of winning if we are losing the game. In fact we must learn
from our mistakes and should not repeat them again.
The learning plays a vital role in the development of young children. The adults in their daily life
come across many problems and are able to face these problems easily. And they give the credit
for this to their childhood learning. It has been proved several times that there is a strong link
between play and learning.
The learning by fun is the most convenient source for a child. By playing the child learn about
social, physical, emotional and logical factors. The children of small age group became active
and they explore their surrounding by the learning they had by playing. (Mustard & Fraser,
2010)
This can also be revealed from the responses of the Catherine and the Helen that the learning is
subjective to the environment in which they are brought-up. So the response is significance to the
Urie Bronfenbrenner theory of learning by playing.
Sometimes the parents stop their child from playing as playing alone is not enough for the
overall development of the child. Also, one reason for this is that the learning which the child is
interpreting from playing is in negative. While the learning from the playing must be positive
and if it is negative then the child must be diversified to some other play.
Catherine sometime dont allow her child to play as she says that, during her childhood her team
members uses some false tricks to win so, she had somewhat make up her mind that it is
impossible to win without cheating. So to stop such negative emotions she sometime stops her
child from playing.
While Helen never stop her child from playing as she believes that whatever learning the child is
getting from playing will however help him somewhere in his life span.
It can also be interpreted from the responses of Catherine and Helen that learning from playing
sometimes misleads the child. With reference to the responses of the respondents the cause for
this is that the growth and development of childs brain at that age is not enough for him to
understand the correct learning which he is getting from the playing.
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Conclusion:
The response of the respondents shows very much significance to the classical theories,
contemporary theories and even with the modern theories of play.
The Catherines as well as the Helens view of learning by playing were not much varying accept
for few questions else both had the same responses. This indicates that the views of the parents
are not much varying about learn by fun for the young children.
But, with the changing scenario the playing ways had also changed. Todays world is more
competent so all parents want their childs learning in such a way which results in the strong
basis of their children as playing acts as a crucial factor in the childs brain development.
However, the ways may change but the learning by fun is always preferred for the young
children. Even study reveals that not only children but also the adults keep on learning from
playing.
The Catherine as well as the Helen considered learning by playing valuable as their children
learn quickly, easily and actively with the fun. Also, when they see positive emotions and other
development in their children learning by playing they motivate their children to play.
It is also been concluded that the learning helps the children to behave in the society. Also, the
learning of the child is very much affected by his surrounding i.e. family, friends, community
and even the society. Also, learning helps the children to express their feelings.
The playing not only results in the teaching of children but also for the adults. The playing makes
us stress free, active and teaches us how to compete in this world which is full of competitions. It
also teaches us that we should never get disappoint if we does not win instead should learn from
our mistakes and must not repeat them again.
Limitations of the Study:
The results may vary with the variation in the number of respondents.
The results are influenced by the biasness of the respondents.
The study reveals the results on the basis of responses of two respondents only.
The respondents are females only. So, the results may vary with the variation in the
gender.

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References

Dietze, B. and Kashin, D. (2011). Playing and learning. Pearson Prentice Hall
Fisher, K. (2010). Playing around in school: Implications for learning and educational policy.
Handbook of the Development of Play 341-362.
Fisher, K., Hirsh-Pasek, K., Golinkoff, R.M., & Glick, S. (2008). Parents' and experts'
perceptions of play in the 21st century. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 29, 305316.
Gmitrova, V. and Gmitrov, G. (2003). The impact of teacher-directed and child-directed pretend
play on cognitive competence in kindergarten children. Early Childhood Education Journal 30(
4), 241-246

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Appendix
1. Do you believe that playing is always associated with the learning?
(a) Yes (b) No
2. Do you and your child take interest in playing?
(a) Yes (b) No
3. Can you check any kind of development in you and your child after playing?
(a) Yes (b) No
4. Do you feel that children learn quick and better with elders?
(a) Yes (b) No
5. Do you play with your child?
(a) Yes (b) No
6. Does your child get bored when you play with him in the same manner?
(a) Yes (b) No
7. Do you yourself sometime get fed-up playing with your child?
(a) Yes (b) No
8. Do you think that play anyhow prepare us for adult life?
(a) Yes (b) No
9. Do you motivate your child to play?
(a) Yes (b) No
10. What is your intention to make him play?
(i) To keep him busy (ii) To use his surplus energy
(a) Yes (for (i) & (ii) (b) No
11. Do you think that learning is affected by our surrounding?
(a) Yes (b) No
12. Do you find learning from play to be useful in physical, emotional and social areas?
(a) Yes (b) No
13. Do you sometime stop your child from playing?
(a) Yes (b) No
14. Do you feel that learning from playing sometimes misleads the learning?
(a) Yes (b) No
Respondent 1: Catherine Williams
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1. Do you believe that playing is always associated with the learning?

Yes
2. Do you and your child take interest in playing?
Yes
3. Can you check any kind of development after playing?
Yes
4. Do you feel that children learn quick and better with elders?
Yes, but sometime they want to play alone.
5. Do you play with your child?
Yes
6. Does your child get bored when you play with him in the same manner?
Yes, I need to be very creative while playing with him.
7. Do you yourself sometime get fed-up playing with your child?
Yes, with household chores it sometimes becomes too chaotic.
8. Do you think that play anyhow prepare us for adult life?
Yes, it helps child to be self-motivated
9. Do you motivate your child to play?
No.
10. What is your intention to make him play?
(i) To keep him busy (ii) To use his surplus energy
Yes
11. Do you think that learning is affected by our surrounding?
Yes
12. Do you find learning from play to be useful in physical, emotional and social areas?
Yes
13. Do you sometime stop your child from playing?
Yes, as it sometimes increases my workload and even mislead my child.
14. Do you feel that learning from playing sometimes misleads the learning?
Yes
Respondent 2: Helen George
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1. Do you believe that playing is always associated with the learning?

Yes
2. Do you and your child take interest in playing?
Yes
3. Can you check any kind of development after playing?
Yes
4. Do you feel that children learn quick and better with elders?
No, when they play alone they are able to perform alone as no assist is available.
5. Do you play with your child?
Yes
6. Does your child get bored when you play with him in the same manner?
Yes, even playing in same manner not only bore my child but also to me.
7. Do you yourself sometime get fed-up playing with your child?
No
8. Do you think that play anyhow prepare us for adult life?
Yes
9. Do you motivate your child to play?
Yes
10. What is your intention to make him play?
(i) To keep him busy (ii) To use his surplus energy
Yes
11. Do you think that learning is affected by our surrounding?
Yes
12. Do you find learning from play to be useful in physical, emotional and social areas?
Yes
13. Do you sometime stop your child from playing?
No
14. Do you feel that learning from playing sometimes misleads the child?
Yes

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