Inside the Classroom: How Play Teaches More Than You Think
At Woodland Hills Private School, play is both our teaching method and our measuring stick. Through Purposeful Play, children explore, imagine, and problem-solve—but they also show us how their minds and social skills are growing. It’s how we nurture learning and track development in real time.
Ask any preschooler what they did today, and chances are they’ll say, “We played!”
To the untrained eye, that might sound like fun and games—but at WHPS, we know it’s the foundation for everything that follows. Play isn’t downtime; it’s deep, purposeful learning in motion.
When preschool programs replace play with too much structure—worksheets, rote drills, or rigid routines—children may look “on task,” but they’re not truly learning how to think. Research shows that overly structured early learning can suppress curiosity, self-regulation, and intrinsic motivation—the very qualities children need to thrive in school and life.
At WHPS, we take the opposite approach: we trust the science of child development. We know that the richest learning happens when children are free to explore, persist, and find joy in discovery.
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At WHPS, Purposeful Play has two equally important meanings.
First, it’s the primary way young children learn—a joyful, engaging process that builds understanding through exploration, imagination, and collaboration.
Second, it’s a window into development: the way a child plays reveals so much about their growth in areas like language, problem-solving, social interaction, and emotional regulation.
Our teachers plan environments that invite discovery and then observe carefully, using play as both the means and the measure of learning. When a child’s play shows sustained attention, imagination, and social engagement, that’s a wonderful sign of developmental progress.
When something seems less typical—such as repetitive play, limited language, or avoiding peer interaction—it’s an opportunity to look closer and provide early support.
When to look a little closer:
Play that’s mostly repetitive or lacks imagination
Avoiding pretend or social play altogether
Rigidity or distress when play doesn’t go “their way”
For families who’d like a clearer sense of what’s typical at each age—and when to seek guidance—see A Practical Guide to Monitoring Holistic Growth, which outlines age-by-age milestones and signs worth a closer look.
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Our classrooms are alive with curiosity. Teachers design environments and experiences that are child-centered, teacher-facilitated, and inquiry-based, allowing children to explore ideas deeply and at their own pace.
A story like Goldilocks and the Three Bears can spark math talk as children act out the tale and sort items into “big, medium, and small.”
In dramatic play, a few fabrics, blocks, and loose parts might become houses, shops, or rocket ships. Along the way, children practice language, teamwork, creativity, and even early engineering.
Teachers may set out “provocations” to spark new interests—perhaps a display of magnifying glasses and insect models that leads to a weeklong investigation of bugs.
In every case, play becomes a pathway to literacy, numeracy, and scientific thinking—anchored in joy, curiosity, and discovery.
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Purposeful Play weaves together every domain of development:
Language & Literacy: storytelling, vocabulary, conversations
Math & Science: counting, sorting, measuring, building
Social–Emotional Growth: negotiating roles, cooperating, expressing feelings
Creativity & Problem-Solving: inventing, testing ideas, thinking flexibly
Play also nurtures the “habits of mind” our world needs most—adaptability, perseverance, collaboration, and empathy. These aren’t extras; they’re the foundation of all future learning.
When children experience choice, wonder, and delight, they’re building intrinsic motivation and the self-confidence that fuels a lifelong love of learning.
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At WHPS, teachers are highly intentional in everything they do. They are facilitators, observers, and co-learners who design experiences that meet children right where they are developmentally—and gently stretch them to the next level.
They:
Plan: Choose materials and provocations that align with each child’s cognitive, social, and emotional goals.
Observe: Watch how children engage and document learning moments to inform next steps.
Support: Step in with questions, vocabulary, or modeling to extend thinking.
Reflect: Use the KWL process (What we Know, Want to know, and have Learned) to help children make connections and see themselves as capable learners.
Celebrate: Share stories, photos, and reflections with families, building a bridge between home and school.
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At WHPS, play is more than an activity—it’s a mindset that shapes our entire school culture. Teachers and families alike value curiosity, joy, and exploration. We embrace cultural diversity and celebrate an ever-growing calendar of cultural events and shared traditions, helping children see the world through a lens of empathy and wonder.
Together, we’re building a community where play is recognized as serious, meaningful work—and where each child is known, supported, and celebrated.
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Play doesn’t stop when children leave school. Families can nurture Purposeful Play at home by:
Offering open-ended materials—blocks, cardboard, fabric, or natural objects.
Asking open-ended questions like, “What do you think will happen if …?” or “How else could we use this?”
Joining in! Follow your child’s lead and let them be the expert.
The most powerful thing you can do is value play the same way we do at school: as an essential, joyful, and deeply human form of learning.
Closing Thought
Play is not separate from learning—it is learning. By creating purposeful, joyful play experiences both at school and at home, we’re giving children the strongest possible foundation for curiosity, confidence, and lifelong learning.