September 22, 2025
Preschool Development: Preparing for the School Years
Birth to 6 Months
In the earliest months, your baby’s world revolves around you. Expect rapid physical growth, from gaining head control to delightful social smiles. They start tracking movement with their eyes and responding to your voice with coos and gurgles. Encourage development through gentle tummy time and plenty of face-to-face interaction.
6 to 12 Months
At this stage, your baby becomes more curious and mobile. They may roll over, sit without support, crawl, or even take their first wobbly steps. Babbling intensifies, laying the groundwork for speech. Support this with interactive play, reading aloud, and safe spaces to explore.
12 to 24 Months
The transition from baby to toddler begins. Expect first words, pointing to objects, and a surge in physical skills like walking and climbing. Toddlers also begin to assert independence—hello, tiny tantrums! Foster learning with simple instructions, naming objects, and lots of patience.
Key Benefits of Play-Based Learning
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Fosters Holistic Development
Children grow best when all areas of development are nurtured together. Play-based learning supports emotional, social, physical, and intellectual growth. For example, building a block tower is not just fun—it develops problem-solving skills, hand-eye coordination, and patience.
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Enhances Social Skills
Play is often collaborative. Through imaginative games and group activities, children learn to share, take turns, resolve conflicts, and communicate effectively. These early social interactions lay a strong foundation for future relationships and teamwork.
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Promotes Cognitive Growth
When children play, they practice decision-making, critical thinking, and creativity. Pretend play boosts language development as children narrate stories, assign roles, and express ideas. Games with rules encourage memory, planning, and understanding of sequences.
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Builds Resilience and Confidence
Mistakes during play are learning opportunities. Whether a puzzle piece doesn’t fit or a sandcastle collapses, children learn persistence and adaptability. This fosters a healthy attitude toward challenges, building confidence in their abilities.
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Encourages Love for Learning
Children who enjoy learning early are more likely to remain curious and motivated later in life. Play-based learning transforms lessons into engaging adventures, turning curiosity into a lifelong love for discovery.
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How Playto Incorporates Play in Learning
At Playto, our approach places play at the core of our curriculum. Our educators design environments that inspire curiosity and exploration. Classrooms are filled with hands-on materials, interactive centers, and open-ended resources that encourage children to experiment freely.
Teachers act as gentle guides rather than directors. They observe play, ask thought-provoking questions, and introduce new concepts naturally during activities. For instance, while children play with water tables, teachers might introduce simple physics principles like floating and sinking.
Safety and nurturing care are paramount. Every play session is structured to balance free play with guided activities, ensuring children feel secure while benefiting from educational opportunities. Families receive regular updates, including photos and notes, so they can see their child’s growth firsthand.