January 8, 2026
First Time Parent Magazine offers insight on a wide range of parenting topics from leading experts in their field.
For learning to resonate with children, it must be more than memorization or passive listening. Decades of research show that children learn best when experiences are active, collaborative, iterative, and joyful. These qualities fuel curiosity, persistence, and creativity – the very skills children need to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.
When children feel delight and wonder, they are more likely to explore, ask questions, and take risks. Protecting that joy and sense of wonder is essential because it drives lifelong learning and problem-solving.
What Is Guided Play?
Guided play occupies the sweet spot between two familiar approaches: free play and direct instruction. Free play, which is child-led and open-ended, is critical for developing social-emotional skills and executive functions. Children learn to negotiate, share, and imagine. But free play alone isn’t optimal for meeting specific learning goals, like counting or letter recognition.
Please click here to read the rest of this article written by Peg Oliveira, PhD in First Parent Magazine