Why Real Play Matters in the Early Years
There is growing concern around how much screen time very young children — especially under two — are exposed to.
Early brain development is not passive.
It depends on movement, touch, and real-world interaction.
Young children learn by:
- turning, stacking, and grasping
- exploring textures, weight, and shape
- experimenting with cause and effect
These experiences build the foundations for thinking, coordination, and understanding.
Real play is inherently multi-sensory.
A child handling a wooden block is not just seeing it — they are:
- feeling its weight and texture
- adjusting their grip
- hearing the sound it makes
- connecting all of this into memory
This is how meaningful learning is formed.
By contrast, screen-based “learning” is limited.
It is largely visual, with minimal physical engagement — often just a single finger tapping or swiping.
The Nature of Screen-Based Play
Many digital games are designed to keep children engaged for as long as possible.
They often rely on intermittent reinforcement — a psychological principle identified by B. F. Skinner — where rewards are unpredictable.
This is the same mechanism used in gambling systems.
For young children, this can create:
- prolonged engagement without satisfaction
- difficulty stopping
- frustration or distress when the device is removed
What can look like enjoyment is sometimes closer to overstimulation followed by dissatisfaction.
In contrast, real-world play has natural endpoints:
- a puzzle is completed
- a tower is built (or falls)
- a game reaches a clear conclusion
These moments create a sense of completion and calm.
Why Sensory Play Builds Stronger Learning
Learning is not just about seeing or hearing — it is deeply multi-sensory and often unconscious.
Children learn through experience:
- water is wet
- sand is loose
- wood is solid
- objects can balance, roll, or fall
These concepts are not “taught” — they are discovered.
Physical toys — like wooden letters, puzzles, and blocks — connect abstract ideas (letters, numbers, shapes) to real-world experience.
This creates stronger neural connections than screen-based representations.
Space for Thinking and Imagination
Another subtle but important difference is sound.
Many electronic toys and games:
- provide constant noise
- guide the experience
- reduce opportunities for the child’s own thinking
In quieter, real-world play, children naturally develop:
- internal dialogue
- imagination
- language through self-talk and interaction with others
These are essential for cognitive and emotional development.
A More Natural Way to Grow
Children don’t need constant stimulation.
They need:
- space
- materials
- freedom to explore
Simple, tactile objects — along with everyday items like cups, spoons, sand, leaves, and water — offer endless opportunities for learning.
These experiences are not just play.
They are the foundation of how children come to understand the world.
Susan Steel BSc. (Psych)