Jackie Mader The Hechinger Report March 24, 2022
This article provides a brief synopsis of the seventeen studies that reviewed play. The full study can be accessed via a link on the “Hechinger Report’ site online.
It is very interesting to note that the studies of children ages three to eight showed a tendency to function in many domains of literacy and mathematics more deeply when guided or ‘gently steered’ than those left to play ‘freely’.
While the findings reiterate, the need as expressed by experts, that children need to engage in more play they clearly show that guided play enhances the learning domains the children engaged in.
The definition of guided play is one that the author suggest needs more clarification and calls for more research on factors that influence guided play.