Why learning through play works.

admin@itmoon.co.uk — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Why Learning Through Play Works.

by Lea

Many people see play as what happens in the playground and learning as what happens in the classroom. However, did you know that play is not only an incredible tool for learning but an essential part of it?

Generally, parents have an understanding that play is a way for their newborns to develop cognitive, creative, social, and physical skills. However, because play is such a natural instinct for children, its importance seems to be less and less recognized as the child grows up. Especially in our current world, attention is heavily focused on quick evidence of learning such as points and exam results, which inevitably affects the approaches of schools and teachers as well.

While we understand the importance and necessity of testing, at Globally Speaking in Rome, we also believe in the immense power of play in education for our young learners. As the organization “Save the Children” states, “Play is how children explore, express, and engage with the world around them,” ultimately helping them become successful and happy adults. But why does learning through play work so well, especially when learning a foreign language?

Free Play vs. Teacher-Led Play

First, it is important to distinguish between free play and teacher-led play. While free play is absolutely necessary for a child’s general development, teacher-led play takes the essence of free play and channels it. Through a teacher’s guidance, specific lesson needs are highlighted. It is not just a break or “fun time” away from typical classroom activities. Rather, it is a very intentional way to refocus, practice, and help children regulate their bodies and minds during lessons, especially considering that a recent study revealed that young children actually have more energy than endurance athletes!

While incorporating play during lessons offers various benefits for young learners, here are some of the most impactful:

Reduces Performance Anxiety

One of the biggest benefits of play in lessons is that it eliminates the fear of participating and making mistakes. Especially for shyer kids, talking and answering questions in a new language can be quite stressful. Although this is a fear that students will overcome with time, play lets them do this in a much freer and quicker way. Because their focus shifts entirely to participating in the game or winning, their anxiety drops, and they produce language much more naturally than they would on a quiz or a test.

Encourages Authentic Communication

Another major benefit is that games force players to use English for real purposes, like negotiating rules, asking for help, or collaborating with peers. While we try to replicate authentic conversations during traditional lesson activities, this naturally occurs the moment students are invested in a game. They stop overthinking rules or worrying about making perfect sentences and start using the language as a genuine tool to achieve their goal instead.

Enhances Vocabulary Retention

It has been a long-known fact that connecting new vocabulary to sensory actions, sounds, and imagery makes the words stick. A child is much more likely to remember the word “jump” if they physically leap during a game or a song, rather than just looking at a flashcard or a picture in a textbook. This helps the language be stored in their memory alongside physical movement and a happy memory, making it much easier to recall later.

Builds Natural Rhythm and Pronunciation

Activities such as songs, nursery rhymes, and simple chants naturally teach English pronunciation, sentence stress, and phonetic patterns. Through music and play, children learn the rhythm and intonation of a foreign language before they even realise that they are learning. It allows them to practice difficult sounds in a repetitive, low-pressure, and fun way! The way educational music is structured also helps the lyrics to be memorable and something that the children often naturally repeat even outside of the classroom.

However, most importantly, we want English to be more than just another obligation on your child’s busy schedule. Our priority is to make it a vital life skill they actively look forward to developing. By weaving songs, games, and play into our lessons, here at Globally Speaking we make sure that mastering English is an experience they enjoy every step of the way.

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Helping Your Child Learn English at Home: 4 Mistakes to Avoid

admin@itmoon.co.uk — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 08:21:20 +0000

Helping Your Child Learn English at Home: Common Mistakes to Avoid

by Lea

Many parents want their children to learn English from a young age. The good news is that you don’t need to turn your home into a classroom! Children learn best when English becomes a natural part of everyday life.

You may ask yourself: “what is the best strategy”?

The best way for children to learn is through fun and regular exposure to the language. You can try to engage your child in watching short English cartoons together, for example “Bluey” or “Peppa Pig” or “Power Rangers” depending on their age. You can listen to English songs together in the car, if it’s from a cartoon soundtrack even better, that way they can relate the movie to the song easily. You can play simple games in English like “Uno” or “Twister” and obviously read some short stories or comics in English before bedtime like “Rapunzel” or “Spider-Man”.

Children learn by listening, repeating, and enjoying the language. They don’t need to understand every word straight away! Don’t worry about mistakes, it is more important to create a fun environment where your kids feel free to play with the language.

To better help you in creating fun English learning opportunities at home, here’s a list of the most common mistakes parents make:

1. Expecting quick results

Learning a language takes time. Many children understand English before they feel ready to speak it. This is completely normal.

2. Testing instead of encouraging

Avoid asking your child to translate every word or repeat everything they hear. Too many questions can make learning feel stressful instead of fun and translation is not a skill that comes naturally to children

3. Correcting every mistake

It’s okay if your child makes grammar or pronunciation mistakes. If you correct them all the time, they may become afraid to speak. Praise their effort first and gently model the correct language when needed.

4. Giving up too soon

Small daily habits are much more effective than occasional long study sessions. Be patient and keep English part of your daily routine.

Your Role as a Parent

You don’t need to be your child’s English teacher. Your job is to create a positive environment where they feel happy and confident using the language.

You should celebrate progress, encourage curiosity, and make learning enjoyable. Your child’s confidence will grow with practice and repetition, and confident children become better language learners.

If you want your child to develop their English further, here at Globally Speaking in Rome we offer young learners courses: our engaging lessons naturally boost vocabulary and grammar through interactive methods, using games and stories.

The post Helping Your Child Learn English at Home: 4 Mistakes to Avoid appeared first on Globally Speaking.

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