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🌱 Play-Based Learning for Emotional Skills 🌱
Hello Sproutly Families,
Children learn best through play. It’s their language, their way of making sense of the world. While academics often take the spotlight, play is one of the most powerful tools for teaching emotional skills. Whether it’s sharing toys, building a fort, or pretending to be superheroes, play gives kids a safe space to practice empathy, self-regulation, problem-solving, and resilience.
This week, let’s explore how play can strengthen emotional intelligence—and how parents can use playful moments to build connection and growth.
In this newsletter, you will get....
Parenting Tips
Photo by Vlada Karpovich on Pexels
Parenting Tips
Join Their World
Step into your child’s play, whether it’s dolls, LEGOs, or dress-up. By following their lead, you validate their feelings and show that their world matters.Use Play to Explore Emotions
Pretend play often mirrors real feelings. If a stuffed animal is “scared,” ask: “What could help them feel safe?” This opens doors for kids to talk about their own emotions indirectly.Practice Problem-Solving
Board games and cooperative play naturally bring up challenges. Waiting turns, losing, or negotiating. Guide kids through these moments instead of smoothing them over.Turn Play into Reflection
After playing, reflect together: “What was fun? What was tricky? How did you figure it out?” This helps kids notice emotional lessons hidden in play.Keep It Simple and Consistent
You don’t need elaborate setups. 5 minutes of focused, playful connection each day can build emotional skills that last a lifetime.
Activity of the Week
Photo by PNW Production on Pexels
Feelings Charades
Write down different emotions on slips of paper (happy, frustrated, excited, worried, silly, proud, disappointed).
Take turns acting them out—no words allowed.
Guess the feeling and talk about times you’ve felt that way.
Variation: For older kids, add scenarios like “Your team lost the game” or “You’re giving a class presentation.”
This activity teaches kids to recognize emotions in themselves and others, building empathy and emotional awareness.
Play isn’t just fun, it’s practice for life. Through play, kids learn how to share, cope, negotiate, and express themselves. When parents see play as emotional learning, everyday moments, like a game of charades or building blocks, become powerful lessons in empathy, resilience, and connection.
This week, try Feelings Charades or join in your child’s pretend play. Notice how much emotional wisdom can be discovered in laughter and imagination.
With you in growth,
Millie & Melissa
The Sproutly Team
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