The International Early Years Curriculum (IEYC) is an educational framework designed for children in Nursery and Kindergarten. It provides a comprehensive and child-centered educational approach during the crucial early years. This curriculum supports children's development, nurtures their curiosity, and equips them with essential skills for lifelong learning.

Let us now take a look at the most recent IYEC topic – “Dinosaur Detectives”, and how play-based learning contributes to the upbringing of the kindergarteners.

Creativity. In one of the learning blocks the pupils have to analyze how the different dinosaurs look: the shape of their scales, horns, claws, etc. After mastering the shapes, the children have use this knowledge to plan and describe how their favourite dinosaur looks like. Last but not least, the kindergarteners apply their accumulated knowledge into a skillset, which helps them to think creatively and out of the box, so each pupil can design their own dinosaur!

Motor skills. While studying this topic, the pupils also become archaeologists. They dig up, examine and catalogue various “dinosaur bones”, carefully hidden around the school garden by their teacher. These activities contribute to the development of fine and gross motor skills, spatial awareness, and coordination. Play-based learning supports children's physical development and helps them understand their bodies and the world around them.

Problem solving and critical thinking. Whether it's building blocks, solving puzzles, or engaging in group games, play-based learning helps develop the problem-solving skills of the pupils. During play, children make decisions, analyze situations, and think critically to overcome obstacles or achieve desired outcomes. They learn to evaluate options, anticipate consequences, and adapt their strategies—a crucial skillset for future learning and problem-solving. All of the above is easily achievable, again through the prism of the “Dinosaur detectives” topic. There the children have to decide how to feed the various dinosaurs, how to help them cross a bridge or where to set up their dens.

Sensory and social skills. Over the course of this IEYC topic the pupils set up a dinosaur-themed roleplay area, where they can group up, display and present their newly acquired skills and knowledge. This provides opportunities for children to negotiate, share, take turns, and communicate with their peers. Through play, they learn valuable social skills, such as empathy, cooperation, and conflict resolution.

In summary, play-based learning within the IEYC fosters creativity, problem-solving, critical thinking, social interaction, language development, emotional growth, and sensorimotor skills. It provides a holistic approach to early childhood education, ensuring that children have fun while acquiring essential skills and knowledge.