Why There's No Such Thing as 'Just Playing' in Early Years

At Compass recognise that the formative years of a child’s development are spent primarily through playtime. However, it’s important to recognise that beyond the pretend play, imaginative storytelling and lively games, children are actively developing the necessary skills relating to lifelong success.

Children here are encouraged to explore, test boundaries and evolve as they follow their curiosities through purposeful play. This emboldens our students to seek future challenges with strengthened cognitive ability and emotional learning, all during their Early Years.

Building the Foundations for Lifelong Success

It’s worth noting that between the ages of 0–3, eighteen percent of the human brain takes shape until the age of 5, where it reaches an astounding ninety percent. These impressionable years highlight the value of play-based exploration; with all their senses engaged and curiosities piqued, we’re guaranteed to aid in their cognitive development.

Physical and motor skills are another valuable skill that children can expect to pick up in Early Years. As they burst with energy during play, students strengthen their bone density, strength and endurance whilst refining their balance, co-ordination and spatial awareness. Arts & crafts and outdoor play are examples of play that support these areas; drawing and colouring help improve fine motor skills for day-to-day writing, while energetic games strengthen physical co-ordination.

Wellbeing & Security

Aside from the physical benefits of energy-fuelled playtime, it’s essential to bear in mind that children will learn to become emotionally resilient and independent if their mental health is also given careful attention.

We at Compass believe that children learn best when they’re happy. In creating that safe space for exploration and adventure, we accommodate their natural desire to learn, an incredible human trait rooted in curiosity. By association, children learn that being inquisitive is encouraged, creating a positive environment which fosters an eagerness to engage in class.

However, through play, children also become accustomed to social skills, beneficial towards developing stronger and healthier relationships in the future. By teaching them to communicate, they’ll be able to form their own supportive communities which, in turn, allow them to become resilient and control their emotions effectively in situations where they feel overwhelmed. All of these aspects therefore contribute towards their independence as their decision-making improves.

Creating Purpose in Play

As a school, we’ve created a play-based approach which develops the foundational skills needed to access excellent future opportunities. Through prestigious curriculum programmes and dedicated Early Years spaces, we ensure that our children receive the necessary specialist resources.

Our Early Years teachers bring global experience and expertise that are paramount to your children's development. With limited class sizes, we can ensure that every child receives responsive care whilst being enriched by our multicultural community, giving them the opportunity to understand what the world has to offer through interactive classroom experiences.

What to Take From This

Overall, we’re proud to take on the responsibility of guiding our Early Years students into further education by expanding on their curiosities. By combining playtime with intention, we align fun with our curricula, making play a pivotal resource for growth!

Written by:

Made Y.