Education is highly regarded in Asian cultures. In recent years learning through play has reached Asia and is now becoming a more established learning style by the in Singaporean schools. Play-based approaches postulate that playing helps young children develop social skills, giving them confidence when they are already in an academic setting.

1. Boosting Children’s
Social and Academic
Skills:
Learning through Play
Sentosa - The State of Fun

2. Education is highly regarded in Asian cultures. In recent years learning through play has
reached Asia and is now becoming a more established learning style by the in Singaporean
schools. Play-based approaches postulate that playing helps young children develop social
skills, giving them confidence when they are already in an academic setting.
Early Childhood and Education lecturer Dr Robyn Anderson says that children who have
developed good oral communication skills through playing are confident, capable of making
friends, and are resourceful and persistent in accomplishing tasks.
Social skills such as being fair, listening, and sharing can be taught in pre-schools and
kindergartens through play. Playing can also develop motor skills and life skills as they are
engaged with hands-on tasks in a stress free environment. For example, playing house
allows children to role-play family values and keeping a house in order. Playing may also
present challenges for children that will make them think and solve problems.

3. At home
Although many families here in Singapore have both parents in full-time employment,
parents can still support their child’s learning. The most fundamental would be providing
children with a nutritional diet, making sure children get enough sleep, being a model of
good behaviour, and giving children love and security.
For more direct ways, reading stories, coupled with role-playing can enhance children’s
imagination and help form a bond with parents and siblings. Meanwhile, incorporating play
while teaching chores like tidying a room reinforces life skills and creates positive attitude
towards tidying.
During Vacation
During holidays, parents can optimise their children’s learning by exposing them to peers,
or activities that could develop their skills. Children can be sent to camps, or enrichment
classes appropriate for their age. For young children this could be dance lessons, singing
lessons or art classes.

4. Sources:
http://www.sentosa.com.sg/
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/education/early-childhood-education-importance-of-
learning-through-play
https://repository.nie.edu.sg/bitstream/10497/285/1/TL-22-2-83.pdf
https://www.childcarelink.gov.sg/ccls/uploads/MCYS-Learning_100310_FA.pdf
For less structured approaches, children can go to a pool and practise swimming. They can
also be introduced to biodiversity when allowed to observe animals at zoos; and they can be
introduced to man’s history when they visit museums.
With parental supervision, playing can help young children begin their learning journey.