Blog

Listening to the Hundred Languages of Children

At Shiv Nadar School, our Early Years classrooms are places of wonder — where play based learning is not just an activity but a way of thinking, exploring, and expressing. We believe that every child speaks in a hundred different ways: through movement, art, storytelling, laughter, and curiosity. Our approach to play based learning in early childhood ensures that children discover, question, and create through meaningful, joyful engagement. 

In our learning spaces, children are encouraged to express what they know and feel through hands-on play based learning activities. Every block tower, every song, every brushstroke tells a story of discovery and growth. 

Exploration and Wonder

Our learners are natural explorers. They use their senses and imagination to make sense of the world  around them. During our recent inquiry into Living Things and Celebrations, classrooms came alive with small-world setups — jungles, oceans, and deserts filled with creatures and stories. 

“Look, the polar bear needs snow!” a child explained, carefully placing cotton near a model animal. In that moment of learning through play in early childhood education, science and storytelling came together beautifully. 

Learners also explored festivals through art and music. Bright colors, joyful patterns, and rhythmic beats filled our spaces. “I’m painting fireworks because they make people happy,” said another child, showing how emotion and creativity are deeply linked. 

For teachers, every playful moment became a window into children’s thinking. Through observation and gentle questions — “What makes this animal special?” or “How does your celebration sound?” — we guided learners to deepen their curiosity and understanding. These interactions highlight how early years learning through play forms the foundation for inquiry and imagination. 

Collaboration and Expression

As learners grow, their play naturally becomes more social and expressive. In our Early Years classrooms, collaboration is at the heart of play based learning. 

During our unit on Communities and Family, learners designed homes and community spaces using blocks and loose parts. “We need a roof so it doesn’t rain inside,” one suggested. Together, they planned, built, and reflected — developing problem-solving and teamwork skills in the process. 

Dramatic play areas buzzed with activity. Through role play, learners explored empathy, responsibility, and belonging — core benefits of play based learning in early childhood. 

Art also became a shared language. Family portraits, drawings of plants, and collaborative murals reflected how children see growth, change, and connection. These experiences show how playing and learning through play in early childhood education support communication, confidence, and care — key qualities that define our philosophy. 

Reflection and Representation

In EY3, reflection becomes a natural extension of play. Children revisit their experiences, look at photos, drawings, and portfolios, and talk about what they’ve learned. 

“I remember when we planted this seed — now it’s growing!” a child shared during a reflection circle. Revisiting moments like these helps children see their own growth — both in skill and in self-awareness. 

Storytelling and journaling are other powerful tools for reflection. When children narrate how they cared for plants or helped a friend, they express empathy and understanding. “I water my plant every day because it gets thirsty like me,” one child said — a small but profound connection between care and compassion. 

Quiet moments of observation also play an important role. Watching shadows move or sketching leaves nurtures mindfulness, patience, and wonder, reinforcing the reflective side of early years learning through play. 

The Many Languages of Learning

Across our Early Years classrooms, we see the harmony of many languages — exploration through play, expression through collaboration, and reflection through representation. 

Every playful interaction reveals deep thinking. Every creation, conversation, and story tells us how children see their world. 

At Shiv Nadar School, play based learning is the foundation of learning. It is through learning through play in early childhood education that children inquire, imagine, and build meaningful connections. When we listen closely — not only with our ears but with our hearts — we discover that children are not just learning about the world; they are teaching us how to see it. 

“When we listen with wonder, we realize that every moment of play is a moment of learning.”