Learning through Play

Learning through Play highlights the essential role of play as a foundation for children’s learning and development during early childhood. Developed by UNICEF with support from The LEGO Foundation, this advocacy brief emphasizes how play fosters cognitive, social, emotional and physical growth, building the foundation for lifelong learning. It presents evidence-based strategies to integrate play into pre-primary education systems — from curriculum design and teacher training to family engagement and quality assurance. By reframing play not as leisure but as a powerful form of learning, the guide advocates for educational systems that nurture creativity, resilience and curiosity through playful, child-centred approaches.

The report also addresses the structural and cultural barriers that limit play-based learning, offering practical recommendations for policymakers, educators and communities. It calls for stronger national frameworks, inclusive curricula and collaborative partnerships between families, teachers and governments to make play a core part of every child’s education. By placing play at the heart of learning, this guide envisions classrooms where exploration and imagination are not distractions, but the very tools that drive development and equity from the earliest years.

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Want to discover how play can transform early education into a joyful and effective experience for all children?

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