Play-based Learning in Kindergarten will be exhausting the first month no matter what you do. There will be much easier days, much quicker if you have a solid schedule in place. For your team and your students. Just remember there is no easy fix here, a general formula, sure… Tweak on repeat is the main slogan for September.

I worked in a variety of daycare settings as an ECE before I had my Bachelor Degree in Education. So I knew what I wanted the flow of our day to look like. I knew transitions had to be simple and not too often. That academics needed to take a back seat for a few weeks until we established routines, expectations and relationships.

Step One: Think about your transitions, they are the make or break of play based learning day.

The day should flow from movement activities to learning activities with scheduled breaks for water, food, washrooms and hand washing. Your day should consist of equal amounts of outdoor time to indoor learning. The movements between these environments will allow your students the fresh air they need. It will also allow for the cooperative play they will naturally learn while in closer quarters indoors.

You will want to incorporate large blocks of exploratory play time with limited adult interactions. This will begin building on their social, emotional, cooperation and problem solving skills. Your students will have a hard time establishing stamina in independent and peer play without this time. I should also mention small groups are key so when half of your class is outside the other half can be in the classroom. This lessens the noise and the social anxiety for your students. Equalling more moments for success. Especially making small class sizes in our over-crowed Kinder rooms.

Step Two: Limit Adult Interactions in your play-based learning opportunities.

It is so easy for us to unintentionally help too much with our littlest learners. The more we do unfortunately the less they are willing to try. As hard as it is sometimes we need to step way back and give that precious wait time.

So what does limited adult interactions mean? It means a quiet reminder to tidy when they leave a centre. When we see kids becoming overwhelmed or exhausted over the course of their day we lead them for some quiet time in the calm down tent. Or check in to see if they need a break. It could also simply be meaningful questions interjected into inquiry based learning moments. This one should happen the most. Otherwise we let them figure it out.

Step Three: Be Consistent.

I don’t know if you noticed but it’s really hard to be consistent in a school. You make your plans with the best of intentions but then things are moved around. Adults are moved. New adults are sometimes brought in. Rooms change, enrolment changes, Administration changes and you can begin to feel like it’s impossible. However you can do it.

You can make it through with a consistent message that this will be the flow and tone for your day. Just keep at it until everyone else feels as secure as you intend them too. (A little more fake it until you make it may be inserted here). Expect it to be rocky but be hopelessly optimistic because it will come together and when it does it will be beautiful.

Step Four: Be Intentional in your play-based learning planning.

Set your goals for the day and let that be your max. Otherwise burnout will quickly ensue. I am writing this specifically to myself as well as you. There will always be things left that you won’t get to. There will never feel like a good time to go home. You will never feel like you have had enough time to accomplish what you set out for yourself, and that, is okay! Go home anyways.

Realizing this is half the battle to a solid work/life balance. If you enjoy staying before or after school for some quiet time that allows the planning you want, great. Set a time limit and follow through on that. If exercise, painting, reading or bubble baths rejuvenate you, make sure you do it more days of the week than not. Make it an equal priority to your day. I say this from experience burn out is not fun. Balance is better.

Step Five: Allow yourself Grace

September is a time for relationship building. In a play-based learning classroom you will likely have students in your class that have experienced trauma, abuse, neglect. If they have experience these students in any variety they will take far longer to trust and bond with you. You will not get their cooperation for your beautifully planned lessons. Or engagement in their self-directed play until they decide you are on their side. There isn’t much you can do to speed up the process either other than unlimited kindness and positive praise.

So until it’s a smooth sailing ship forgive the days that aren’t the best and still look forward to tomorrow because better days are coming. To read more about Social Emotional Learning and how it helps your students check out my blog post here.

With Love, C.

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