October 2022

Five ways to spot playful learning

How can you tell if a child is playfully learning and picking up essential skills? Our research says you’ll know it when you see it. Discover the five characteristics of learning through play here.

For an activity to be considered playful learning, we believe that it involves five characteristics

You might not spot all five characteristics in every kind of play, but the chances are you’ll see several characteristics and skills coming together in most types of learning through play.

Joyful
Meaningful
Actively engaged
Iterative
Socially interactive
Picture shows the promotion tile of the online course, with title and a picture of children playing

Learn how to observe and improve children's playful experiences

We've developed an online course and tool designed observe and improve children's playful learning experiences. Throughout the course you'll gain (or refresh) knowledge on the foundations of learning through play and how the Experience Tool works - all for free!

Join now

Dive deeper

July 2022 Evidence
Good Life at home and at play
In the first of a three-part series, we asked Denmark’s children what makes life good. Here’s what they told us about their friends and families
Children making funny faces
July 2022 Evidence
Good Life and play
October 2022 Evidence
World Mental Health Day: How play can support children’s mental health
May 2022 Opinion
8 play ideas for family wellbeing
March 2022 Opinion
Play more, worry less: 3 ways play boosts resilience
April 2022 Opinion
The power of pretend play
May 2022 Opinion
Play isn’t another thing to do. It’s another way to do things
Playful parenting gives a boost to every member of the family – and it doesn’t have to feel like yet another thing on the to do list. Read one parent’s perspective on getting more play in every day
March 2022 Evidence
Why social and emotional learning is top of the class
September 2021 Evidence
Five reasons playful parenting lasts a lifetime
Children making funny faces
September 2021 Opinion
Five ways to boost your child’s wellbeing through play
September 2021 Evidence
Play to cope with change
October 2021 Opinion
Closing the skills gap

Explore the research

Learning through play: what the science says
Do you know that play builds brains? We look at research that shows how playful learning experiences lay the foundations for brain development and develops 21st century skills
In the classroom, At home, Future skills
The relationship between learning through play and holistic skills
Learning through play helps children develop the skills they need to thrive. And we’ve got an ever-growing body of evidence to illustrate it. Take a look.
Future skills, In the classroom
What do children (and grown-ups) have to say about play?
We asked children around the world what they thought about play. Here’s what they had to say
At home, In the classroom, Future skills
The power of playful parenting
When children develop strong, playful bonds with parents and caregivers, the benefits last a lifetime. Here’s why it’s always worth getting more play in every day.
At home
How can reading be more playful?
Play is a powerful tool for children's language development. Here's why playful reading is so important.
In the classroom, Future skills
Positive play in a digital age
Children spend more time online than ever – so it is vitally important that digital platforms are a safe space to explore and learn through play. Here’s how organisations are steering industry and governments to put children’s wellbeing first.
Technology, Wellbeing
Why creativity matters and how play nurtures creative minds
Creativity is instinctive in children – and just as essential in adults. Here’s an introduction to what we know so far about why and how we should make space for children to hone creative skills.
In the classroom, At home, Future skills, Systems reform
Rebuilding systems around social and emotional learning
Social and emotional learning is every bit as vital as reading and writing - especially now. We spoke to policymakers around the world about how they’re reshaping education around these essential skills.
Future skills, Wellbeing
How children thrive on play
Dive into the evidence for play’s vital role in child development.
At home, In the classroom, Future skills