"Just Playing?"- Big Bench Building

Recently we experienced a stretch of play time with only four children at the school...two boys and two girls. After only a short time, two separate construction sites emerged through the play...both using the same big benches that we normally use at the kitchen tables.

The boys built "an airport."

The girls used theirs as a method of entry to a castle. 

So we may be "just playing", but...

What are the children doing here?

What do you see?

What learning is taking place?

What skills are being practiced/developed?

Thank you for remembering that young children do not “just play.” Young children play. They develop through play. They learn through play. They experiment through play. They grow through play. A child’s work is play. Play is important!

Please take a moment to reflect upon the photos and questions above. I would love for you to share your observations in a comment. I’d also like to invite you to “hop” on over to all of the other bloggers who are sharing photos of children learning through play this week: