Play is not fancy; it’s foundational and fundamental

“Play is a break from learning”? Absolutely not! Play provides the blueprint for children to think, explore and connect with the world around them. It profoundly shapes learning by building strong pathways and synaptic connections in the brain, writes Dr Shelina Bhamani, an Assistant Professor, Research and Lead for Early Childhood Parenting Programme at Aga Khan University (AKU). A substantial body of research from neurosciences and social sciences support play. Every time a child engages in play, they build their brain, both biologically and cognitively. Through play, they learn to solve problems, communicate, make decisions, store information, and form lifelong pathways for learning.