Learn the essential traits of a successful play-based kindergarten teacher. This guide offers practical advice and ideas for teachers to find success in implementing a play-based learning pedagogy.

Do you have what it takes to be a play based kindergarten teacher? What about a successful play based kindergarten teacher?

I've had days when the playdough has been trodden into the carpet, dirty paintbrushes fill the sink, and my carefully curated sensory play tray has been spread from one end of the room to the other. I won’t lie to you. I didn’t feel too successful on those days.

Play-based learning can be hard. There can be days when you question if you have what it takes to be a successful play based kindergarten teacher…

BUT those days have gone for me. Now I trust the process. I know I have what it takes, and I feel successful. I have seen first-hand the value of play-based learning. I’ll never teach any other way.

As more educators begin to see the value of play-based learning in the early years classroom, it's become clear to me the success of this approach relies heavily on skilled teachers.

If you're a kindergarten, preschool, or first-grade teacher looking to create an engaging and meaningful play-based curriculum for your young children, you need to be on top of your game. I wrote this blog post as your go-to guide on how to get there. 

By the end, you'll understand the key traits you’ll need if you want to be a successful play-based kindergarten teacher.

If you are wondering if you have what it takes to be a successful play-based kindergarten teacher, this blog post is for you. There are many similarities between the key traits setting apart any successful teacher from the rest – whether you are a play-based teacher or not, and whether you are a kindergarten teacher or not. 

If you're new to play-based learning or a seasoned educator like me, understanding and embracing these traits will help you take your teaching skills to the next level.

Understanding the Real Essence of Play-Based Learning

Play based learning can thrive in both public schools and private schools. The success of a play-based program has more to do with the teacher than it has to do with the resources or the setting.

I believe learning through play and age-appropriate pedagogies are a child's right. They are an integral part of any high-quality elementary education program. Many elementary school teachers agree with me. If you are reading this post, you are probably one of them!

To excel as a play-based kindergarten teacher, you will not only meet curriculum standards and expectations, but you’ll do it through an engaging and age-appropriate play-based pedagogy. 

Let me be clear and dispel a common myth right at the start: Successful play-based learning isn't a chaotic free-for-all. It is a well-thought-out approach cleverly orchestrated by the teacher.

In a play-based setting, children have the freedom to explore, experiment, discover, and tackle challenges in creative and playful ways. However, this doesn't mean a lack of structure.

Effective play-based teaching requires a balanced blend of child-led and teacher-designed learning opportunities.

A skilled play-based teacher actively nurtures children's development by offering enticing learning invitations to stimulate personalised cognitive and socio-emotional growth.

For instance, you can pose questions encouraging problem-solving and introduce mathematical concepts during block play. You can foster literacy skills in language arts by adding paper and pens to the blocks area. This will build early literacy skills by encouraging your students to draw and write.

Accomplished play-based educators have a knack for designing learning environments and investigation areas that seamlessly align with their curriculum's learning objectives.

This integration ensures academic standards and benchmarks are met while at the same time - nurturing each child's innate desire to learn and grow.

The Kindergarten Teacher's Role as an Observer

In a play-based classroom, the teacher plays the role of an observer.

This role allows you to gain profound insights into your students, their interests, and their developmental requirements.

To be an effective play-based teacher you must embrace the opportunity to carefully observe your students during investigation or play-based learning time.

If you make notes about 

• who your students are working with

• what they are working on

• and where they have chosen to work

you can use these observations to inform your planning and teaching.

Your observations serve as valuable data to inform future resources, learning invitations and lesson plans that cater to the unique needs of each child in your class. Your observations should be the foundation for shaping your learning invitations and curriculum planning.

If you would like a helpful tool to help you make these informed observations, make sure to download my free observation checklist. I use this checklist all the time in my classroom. It will help you to track and understand your students' progress and preferences.

The Importance of a Skilled Teacher in Play-Based Learning Classrooms

The teacher's role goes way beyond mere supervision in a play-based setting. You are not only the creator of a space that encourages exploration, creativity, and learning but you must also be the guardian of this learning environment.

This role becomes even more critical when you consider your young learners' varying developmental stages and diverse needs.

Don't take my word for it!

Recent research supports it.

Parker and Thomsen (2019) found no single teaching method is universally effective. The success of a play-based pedagogy depends on various components. Their research found several important variables that make this teaching style successful: 

Students' Background: It's important to remember every student comes to your classroom with different skills and experiences. These will affect their learning.

Teacher's Role: Teachers need to really understand play-based teaching. They should know their students well, offer help when needed, and act like guides during learning. They also need good knowledge of the curriculum and what they're teaching.

Activity Design: Activities should be based on what students already know and need to learn. They should have clear goals, be well-organised, and encourage higher-order thinking.

Learning Goals: Play-based teaching should focus on deeper understanding rather than just covering many topics. It's also important to have flexible ways to check for students' understanding.

Support from School and Parents: For this style of teaching to work well, schools need to have the right resources, planning, and leadership. It also helps when family members are involved and support this style of teaching.

In light of these research findings, it’s clear for a play-based learning pedagogy to be successful, you will need a skilled and informed teacher.

The roles and responsibilities you will have as a play-based kindergarten teacher are complex and varied.

The Roles and Responsibilities of a Play-Based Kindergarten Teacher

In early childhood education, play-based kindergarten teachers hold an extremely important position. Their role goes way beyond simply supervising children and playing all day.

How many times have you heard - "Oh, it must be nice to be a kindergarten teacher and just play all day!" 🤬

It gets me going when others think teaching through play is a fun and easy ride. Yeah it might be fun, but it is not easy!!

As I have already addressed - an effective play-based pedagogy is NOT a free-for-all play-all-day chaotic mess! 

It is all about purposeful play.

Successful Play-based learning requires

• a skilled educator

• thoughtful planning

• purposeful observations

• and guided and informed teaching. 

I’m sure you have felt the pressures of implementing a kindergarten curriculum requiring your students to meet mandated curriculum benchmarks. Whether you are implementing a play-based pedagogy or not – these pressures exist everywhere in our current educational climate.

Play pedagogy can and does address the challenges and pressures associated with mandated curriculums and standards.

In a play-based learning classroom, skilled educators create learning environments where their young learners engage with joy and purpose. The young minds of their students are engaged as they build foundational cognitive skills and work at their personal level of cognitive and emotional development. 

To do this effectively, you must adopt the roles and responsibilities of a play-based kindergarten teacher. These include:

Understanding the Child: Recognise and consider each child's unique background, experiences, and skills. Tailor your teaching methods to cater to these individual differences.

Creating a Playful Environment: Design the classroom to be engaging and conducive to play. This would include setting up different investigation areas based on curriculum themes and learning objectives.

Usually, this involves setting up learning provocations to tweak the interests of individuals and small groups. If you want to learn more about the areas I set up in my classroom, make sure to check out this blog post: The 10 Essential Areas of A Play Based Classroom

Planning Age-appropriate Activities: Ensure your learning invitations and activities stimulate curiosity, are rooted in children's development, students' needs and interests, and promote deeper understanding. This might involve hands-on learning invitations and provocations inspired by methods such as those found in Reggio Emilia. You can learn more about this method in this blog post: 3 Steps to Setting Up a Learning Provocation

Being a Facilitator: One of the main kindergarten teacher roles in a play based classroom requires the teacher to act more as a guide rather than a traditional teacher. Encourage exploration and help children connect their purposeful play experiences to their foundational knowledge.

Continuous Learning: Stay updated on current educational theories related to play-based pedagogy. This includes understanding what playful and age-appropriate pedagogies are and aren't.

You must also learn everything you can about child development and best practices for children's learning. Continued professional development will give you the skills you need to set up learning invitations in creative ways that build basic skills.

Flexible Assessment: If you are a kindergarten teacher, you are well aware that one of a kindergarten teacher's major duties involves assessments. There seems to be a never-ending stream of them in the early years classroom.

Monitor children's progress in a manner fitting to a play-based approach.

This might mean more observational assessments or portfolios rather than traditional testing. I designed a simple checklist to help me make informed observations. You can grab it for free 👇

You can’t get around traditional testing, but you can design learning invitations and activities to support any mandated assessments.

Collaborating with Others: Work with other teachers, parents, and your community members to ensure consistent support for play-based learning. Parents, especially, should be educated on the value of play and how it contributes to their child's development.

Resource Management: Use engaging and professional resources to keep children focused. Being prepared with quality and purposeful tools and materials that support play makes all the difference in the investigative classroom.

Oh I hear you moaning!

I know you have a limited budget.

Ask for donations from your parents, the local community, and frequent op shops. You’ll be surprised how much you can source for free or on the cheap.

You don’t need the shiny latest thing either. Loose parts are the foundation of any play-based learning environment, and they are cheap and easy to collect.

Check out this blog post, Loose Parts Resources, to discover what loose parts are and why you need them in your classroom. In my loose parts blog post, you will also find a free list of over 150 loose parts resources you can use to easily set up age-appropriate investigation areas and learning invitations.

Safety and Well-being: Always ensure the physical environment is safe for children to play in. Emotional and social well-being should also be prioritised. Ensure children feel safe, secure and supported in their classroom.

Reflective Practice: Continually reflect on your teaching practice and make adjustments as needed. Seek feedback, observe the children's engagement, and be ready to pivot and adapt based on what's working and what's not.

A play-based kindergarten teacher's role is multifaceted. It's not easy - but it is rewarding and the best job in the world!

The Key Traits of a Successful Play-Based Kindergarten Teacher

So, we have addressed the roles and responsibilities of a play-based kindergarten teacher. It doesn’t stop there though. Here are my suggestions for the key traits and values of a successful play-based kindergarten teacher.

Fair but Firm

Being fair but firm is essential in establishing a respectful classroom culture. I've found setting clear boundaries from day one helps children feel secure and respected.

Respectful

Respect in a classroom is a two-way street. An important step in creating a respectful classroom is treating each child as an individual deserving of respect.

This will naturally cultivate an atmosphere where kids feel valued and heard. It’s all part of creating a classroom community and you can read more about it here: How to Build a Classroom Community

Friendly and Engaging

While maintaining boundaries is important, being friendly and approachable makes children more enthusiastic about coming to school. This sets a positive tone and an easy way to foster a love for learning. 

When young students feel a genuine connection with their teacher, they're more likely to actively participate, ask questions, and take risks in their lessons and activities. Creating a friendly, welcoming environment will boost their academic skills and confidence. It will nurture their social-emotional skills too.

Structured yet Flexible

One of the most common questions I hear from teachers is how to strike the right balance between maintaining a friendly atmosphere and keeping control of the classroom. The answer? Be structured but flexible. 

Well-defined rules and routines are essential to create a structured learning environment where children have a sense of security and predictability.

Classroom rules are important. Children need to know what to expect each day and what is expected of them as learners. Set clear expectations and boundaries so your students can confidently navigate their day.

However, this structure doesn't mean you can’t be spontaneous and flexible. In my play based classroom, we are very flexible. My children have the freedom to explore, create, and express themselves.

In a well-designed, playful learning environment, there are plenty of opportunities for unexpected discoveries, bursts of creativity, and the joy of in-the-moment learning. 

A balance between structure and freedom creates a dynamic, responsive, and enriching learning environment.

The Essential Play-Based Kindergarten Teacher Values

In addition to these traits, successful play-based kindergarten teachers also embrace specific values that guide their practice:

• A belief in the power of play as a vehicle for learning and growth.

• A commitment to fostering curiosity, imagination, and creativity in their students.

• An understanding of the importance of child-led exploration and inquiry.

• A dedication to creating a safe age-appropriate, supportive learning environment.

• A passion for continuous learning and professional development in the field of play-based education.

• An appreciation of each child's unique strengths and needs and a commitment to individualised instruction.

• A recognition of the role of play in developing not only academic skills but also social-emotional skills.

These values, combined with the key traits mentioned earlier, are the pillars of a successful play-based kindergarten teacher's approach to education.

Problems and Solutions for Play-Based Kindergarten Teachers

Struggling to balance friendliness with classroom control?

The key is to establish clear rules while creating a supportive atmosphere. Implement a set of classroom rules and routines to help you manage the classroom effectively. It is the best way to provide consistency.

Students find a consistent and well-managed classroom predictable and safe.

But remember, these rules aren't rigid barriers. Instead, they serve as guidelines that allow children to explore within safe boundaries.

Building a classroom community based on trust and mutual respect can create an environment where students feel valued and understood.

If you find it challenging to maintain this balance, check out my resources for effective classroom management solutions.

And I need to repeat this again in case you were skimming this post and missed it: If you want to learn more about creating a classroom community, check out this blog post: How to Build a Classroom Community

You will like this blog post because it's related to play-based teaching methods and your role as a successful play based learning teacher. 

As an experienced play-based teacher myself, I’m harping on about it because I know the positive effects of a strong classroom community.

A classroom community is a place where children feel a sense of belonging and connection. Building a classroom community is crucial for all teachers and not just play based teachers.

It should be a top priority in every classroom.

Some of the benefits of a classroom community include:

• increased student participation and communication skills

• improved classroom management

• enhanced academic and social development

Creating a classroom community is often overlooked when we review all the educational requirements we are responsible for. A strong and supportive classroom community plays an important role in any school environment. It is particularly important when teaching kindergarten though. 

This is the year when young children form their impressions of school and begin to see themselves as learners. It is essential we set the groundwork and prepare our students to be successful in a school setting and in later grades.

Some simple strategies to help you build a classroom community with your kindergarten students include:

• welcoming students' diverse backgrounds

• involving students in creating classroom rules

• holding morning meetings

• collaborating on class projects

• adopting play-based and inquiry learning pedagogies

• prioritising relationships

• being an active class member

• promoting a growth mindset.

Click HERE If this interests you and you would like to learn more.

In a Nutshell…

In our current educational climate, the role of a kindergarten teacher has never been more vital. Whether you're a seasoned educator like me or just starting out on your journey into the world of play-based learning, this blog post has explored the core qualities and values you'll need to be a successful play-based kindergarten teacher.

These core traits and values are desirable in all elementary teachers - not only the early childhood ones.

I began by acknowledging the undeniable pressures faced by educators in meeting mandated curriculum benchmarks. Then I highlighted that these pressures persist, regardless of whether you're implementing a play-based pedagogy or not. 

However, the essence of this post explains how skilled educators possess the transformative power to create play-based environments where young learners not only meet these benchmarks but do so with genuine joy and the building of foundational cognitive skills.

I uncovered the multifaceted nature of play-based teaching by exploring the roles and responsibilities of a play-based kindergarten teacher, and you learned about the key traits and intrinsic values that underpin a play-based teacher's practice.

I've based this blog post on my years of work-related experience in play based classrooms and also on educational research on best practices.

In conclusion, as you embark on your journey as a play-based kindergarten teacher, remember that your role goes far beyond mere supervision.

You will be responsible for scratching dried playdough out of the carpet, cleaning paintbrushes and setting up a beautifully curated sensory tray because you are the architect of an environment where exploration, creativity, and learning thrive.

You possess the ability to navigate the challenges of curriculum standards so don’t let a little dried playdough get in your way. Kindling that all-important spark of discovery in your students is worth every single bad day along the way.

Each classroom day, you have the opportunity to help your students meet academic milestones and become confident, independent and thinking individuals.

Make sure play-based learning is part of your daily routine. It is the best way to cater to each child's needs.

If you would like more insights and practical ideas on how to get started in play-based learning, you will like this blog post: How to Start with Play-Based Learning

Getting Started with Play-Based Learning is a blog post aimed at early childhood teachers starting out on their play-based learning journey, but even seasoned play-based gurus will learn something from this post.

It discusses the importance of play in learning and offers some practical play-based learning examples and tips on how to easily implement this wonderful pedagogy. You can download my popular Guide to Play Based Learning from this blog post too.

So do you have what it takes to be successful play based kindergarten teacher? I bet you do!!