Updated · reviewed by the KIDSUP team, Kanata
Learning through play: the short answer
Children aged 3 to 6 learn the world through play. Role-play helps them try out different roles and builds empathy, math and logic games train thinking and perseverance, and construction sets develop fine motor skills. At KIDSUP in Kanata, play-based learning runs through every class, and parents can use the same games at home.
Why play works for children 3–6
From early childhood, a person learns the world through play, which is why play-based learning is the core of every class at our centre. In play a child is curious, asks questions and repeats an action many times without being told to. That is the state in which new skills stick.
Ontario’s pedagogy for the early years, How does learning happen?, describes engagement as creating environments and experiences that let children learn through play and inquiry, and names four foundations of learning: belonging, well-being, engagement and expression. Researchers at Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child add that responsive back-and-forth exchanges between a child and a caring adult build the connections that communication and social skills grow from. A game played together is exactly that kind of exchange.
Three kinds of games our teachers use
- Role-playThe child tries out different professions and roles: shop assistant, doctor, cook, teacher. This develops empathy and social imagination. At home: a toy shop with real coins, a doctor’s kit, “cooking” lunch for the toys.
- Math and logic gamesGames with elements of math and logic, matched to the child’s age, train analytical thinking and perseverance. At home: count stairs, sort laundry by colour, continue a pattern of beads or blocks.
- Construction setsBuilding develops fine motor skills and shows how things work through observation: what stands, what falls and why. At home: build a bridge for a toy car and test it together.
- Logic tasks for older childrenFor older children we use special logic tasks that teach planning and strategic thinking. At home: simple mazes, “what comes next” puzzles, board games with turns.
How to turn a learning task into a game at home
Start from what your child already likes. A child who loves cars will count wheels, sort cars by size and build garages. Keep the challenge one small step above what the child can already do, play alongside, and stop while it is still fun. At the end, say what your child managed: “You built the bridge so the car could cross.”
Feedback: why each success should bring joy
The key point is feedback. A child should feel that learning is interesting and that each new achievement brings joy to them and to the people around them. We try to keep an environment where every child can express themselves and find what they like. Praise is most useful when it names what the child did; our article on praise and confidence shows how to phrase it, and positive reinforcement explains how to encourage the behaviour you want to see.
Play-based classes at KIDSUP, Kanata
Our teachers use Montessori and Reggio Emilia methods: children learn by exploring, through play, sensory and creative activities. Groups have up to 15 children, and classes run 9AM–1PM in English. The centre has playrooms and a music studio for this kind of learning.
| Program | Age | Format | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early development | 3–6 | Group of up to 15 | $45 |
| Group classes | 4–8 | Up to 15 children | $60 |
| Preparation for school | 4–8 | Group or one-to-one | $60 group$40 one-to-one |
Programs run 9AM–1PM in English at 150 Katimavik Rd, Kanata. Full list: programs and prices.
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Questions parents ask
It is learning where play is the main tool: a child gains speech, math, motor and social skills through role-play, games and building. At KIDSUP it runs through every program for ages 3–8.
Role-play (shop, doctor, kitchen), sorting and counting games with everyday objects, and building with blocks or construction sets. Choose one that matches what your child already enjoys and play together.
Yes, play is how our Preparation for school program (ages 4–8, $60) teaches speech, early math, memory, attention and hand skills for writing. For a list of skills to check at home, see the kindergarten readiness checklist for Ontario.
If your child gives up, gets upset or asks you to do it, make the step smaller. A good game is one the child can finish with a little effort and some help from you.
Early development for ages 3–6 costs $45, group classes for ages 4–8 cost $60, 9AM–1PM, at 150 Katimavik Rd. Send the online form or call +1 613-867-7786.
Sources
- Government of Ontario: “How does learning happen? Ontario’s pedagogy for the early years”
- Harvard University, Center on the Developing Child: “Serve and Return”
- KIDSUP program pages: early development, group classes, additional services.
Questions about your child? Talk to our team
KIDSUP is an early learning centre for children 3–8 at 150 Katimavik Rd, Kanata. Send the form or call: we call back, answer your questions and suggest a program or a consultation.
