Researching child care programs and early education can be a daunting task for most parents. There are many different teaching philosophies that parents will encounter. Montessori, Waldorf, Reggio Emilia, faith-based programs, and many others each offer unique approaches to early childhood education. With so many options, it can feel overwhelming to determine which philosophy is the best fit for your child.

At The Cisco Center, we follow a play-based learning approach, which we call “learning through play,” because we believe children learn best when the learning environment is engaging, meaningful, and naturally integrated into their everyday experiences. While every educational philosophy has its strengths, we have found that children with special needs often develop the strongest foundation when they are encouraged to explore, discover, and learn through play rather than through forced instruction.

What is Learning Through Play

Learning through play, also called play-based learning or sometimes the Bank Street Method, is exactly what it sounds like: children develop important skills through purposeful play experiences. This approach is based on American philosopher and psychologist John Dewey’s theory of “learning by doing”

Rather than relying on worksheets or long periods of direct instruction, teachers use children’s natural curiosity and interests to introduce new concepts and build essential skills. During play, children practice communication, problem-solving, empathy, creativity, motor development, and early literacy and math concepts without even realizing they are learning. In other words, they think think they are just having fun but are really developing skills to help them later in life.

In a play-based classroom, teachers don’t simply watch children play. They carefully observe each child’s interests and developmental stage, then create opportunities to guide learning within those activities. This allows every child to learn at a pace that feels natural while remaining engaged and excited.

The Importance of Play in Learning

One of the biggest differences between learning through play and more traditional teaching methods is that it places the child at the center of the learning process which is incredibly important for children with special needs.

Instead of following rigid lesson plans where every child completes the same activity in the same way, teachers establish learning objectives and intentionally weave those objectives into meaningful play experiences.

This doesn’t mean there is no structure. In fact, effective play-based classrooms are highly intentional. Teachers carefully plan activities that encourage exploration while helping children reach developmental milestones. The result is a balance between child-led discovery and teacher-guided instruction.

There are several different types of play that work together to support children’s growth.

Free Play

Free play is what most parents picture when they hear the phrase “play-based learning.” During free play, children choose what they want to do, who they want to play with, and how they want to explore.

While it may appear simple and non-instructional, free play provides countless learning opportunities. Children build independence by making their own choices, strengthen creativity through imaginative thinking, and develop confidence as they solve problems on their own. They also practice important social skills like sharing, cooperation, negotiation, and conflict resolution while interacting with their peers.

Free play gives teachers valuable insight into each child’s interests, strengths, and developmental needs, allowing them to better support future learning. It also provides teachers the ability to inject learning objectives into their play in a way that might provide a larger impact than group instruction. 

Guided Play

Guided play is actually the heart of our learn through play classrooms.

During guided play, children are still actively playing, but teachers intentionally participate to help expand learning. Rather than directing every action, teachers provide a starting point and ask thoughtful questions, introduce new materials and encourage problem-solving to help children discover new ideas through the activity.

For example, while children are building with blocks, a teacher might introduce vocabulary about shapes, encourage counting, discuss balance and stability, or challenge children to work together to build a larger structure.

This approach keeps learning fun while ensuring children continue developing new skills and concepts every day.

Dramatic or Role Play

Dramatic play, sometimes called role play or pretend play, deserves special recognition because of its incredible impact on child development both as free play and guided play.

Whether children are pretending to run a grocery store, care for a baby doll, work as veterinarians, or cook in a play kitchen, they are practicing real-life skills in a safe environment.

Role play encourages:

• Language and vocabulary development
• Emotional expression and empathy
• Cooperation and teamwork
• Problem-solving and critical thinking
• Creativity and imagination
• Confidence in social situations

Teachers often participate by introducing new ideas, asking questions, or providing props that encourage children to think more deeply about the roles they’re exploring. This form of play is also one of the best ways to help young children learn social skills as well and how to play with others appropriately.

How Learning Through Play Impacts Growth

Research consistently shows that young children learn best through active, hands-on experiences.

Play-based learning supports every area of development, including:

• Cognitive development through problem-solving and exploration
• Language development through conversation and storytelling
• Social and emotional growth through teamwork and relationship-building
• Fine motor skills through art, puzzles, writing, and manipulatives
• Gross motor development through movement, outdoor play, and physical activities

Perhaps most importantly, children develop a genuine love of learning. Because learning is associated with curiosity, discovery, and fun, children become more confident learners who are eager to ask questions and explore new ideas. 

Why We Believe in Learning Through Play

At The Cisco Center, we believe childhood should be filled with curiosity, exploration, and joyful learning. While many parents wonder whether learning through play adequately prepares children for kindergarten and beyond, we strongly believe it is a key part of success for most children with special needs. Each child has their own needs, and putting them at the center of learning helps them learn the skills they will need later in life.

Our teachers intentionally create engaging experiences that encourage children to discover, ask questions, solve problems, and build meaningful relationships. Every activity has a purpose, and every playful moment becomes an opportunity for growth.

When children are excited to learn, they don’t just gain knowledge, they develop confidence, resilience, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning. That’s why play isn’t a break from learning at The Cisco Center, it’s how learning happens.