Free play, learning and lego (part 2)

Previously, in Free play, learning and lego part 1, three aspects of learning through play. Part 2 will discuss two more very important aspects of learning through play.

Lego is rarely a solitary activity. More often than not you see kids in groups working on lego activities together. Social engagement can have many benefits for learning. Firstly, kids can see the strategies that other kids are using. This can broaden and extend their thinking skills. Secondly, different insights can allow projects to evolve which can promote creativity, resilience and curiousity. Thirdly, it can encourage the development of social skills. Fourthly, communal activities like lego can encourage children to make new friends(Lego foundation, n.d). Here, its often best to avoid micromanaging their interactions and only intervene if absolutey necessarily.

In this context, iteration means learning through trial and error and the ability to revisit concepts to extend personal understandings. Iterative learning is closely connected to child directed learning due to its focus on student agency. When playing with lego or other intellectually stimulating manipulatives let kids make big and small choices with their learning. A big choice could be what you are both going to make next. A small choice could be where they are going to connect the next block. This doesn't mean that you shouldn't share your ideas or contribute. But it does mean that when playing with them with lego it can be really helpful to think of it as a partnership in which you are both contributing instead of a task in which you are directing them. Such seemingly small shifts in our thinking can have real impacts on kids willingness to take risks with their learning.

These two blogposts have developed 5 important aspects of learning through free play. Naturally, these attributes are not exclusive to lego. They can be applied to any number of activities with your child through everyday life. If we can support the agency of the next generation, they can soar, imagine and extend themselves. Naturally, freeplay like any type of learning, does require support structures futue articles will discuss this in greater depth.

Reference List

Lego Foundation. (n.d).The unrealized potential of learning through play at school
building confidence through development of holistic skills. Learning through play. https://education.lego.com/en-us/teacher-resources/lego-learning-system/start-here/lego-learning-system-start-here-learn-key-pedagogy/