WHY PLAY IS SERIOUS WORK

Today, on International Day of Play, we’re joining a global movement to recognise something children instinctively know – and adults often forget: 

Play is not a break from learning. Play is learning.

At UWS, we see this every day. When children play, they do more than laugh and move. They build confidence. They solve problems. They form relationships. They explore the world around them – and their place within it. 

In the earliest years of education, play lays the foundations for lifelong learning. And in the remote communities where UWS works, it can be a game-changer (literally).

Learning Through Play

Play-based learning isn’t just about toys and games. It’s a powerful tool for developing literacy, numeracy, communication, and critical thinking skills – often without children even realising they’re learning.

At UWS, we integrate play into every school day in both structured and unstructured ways. Our teachers use:

• Games to reinforce maths and language
• Storytelling and songs to boost memory and comprehension
• Role-play and group activities to build social and emotional skills

Even break-time games like tag or football become lessons in teamwork, negotiation, and resilience.

Serious Impact, Joyful Results

Research shows that play-based learning can boost early learning outcomes by up to four additional months on average (Evidence For Learning). This means children who engage in play-based learning tend to advance in their development at a faster rate.

Here’s what children gain through play:

• Boosted brain development, especially in the first 5 years
• Improved early literacy and numeracy outcomes
• Increased classroom participation and emotional well-being
• Strengthened memory, concentration and problem-solving
• Enhanced empathy, teamwork, and resilience
• A natural drive to learn through curiosity and exploration

Play is a serious task for children

Today we’re reminded that play isn’t a distraction from the “real” work of education. It is the work. Play turns classrooms into welcoming, safe spaces where children can express themselves, try new things, and learn with joy.

When children play, they don’t just imagine a different world. They begin to build one.
When we Educate The Future, we Change The Future