The Hidden Curriculum of Play: What Teachers Really Do During Playtime

Playtime isn’t just for fun—it’s one of the richest learning environments teachers have, especially in early childhood settings. At playschool, expert educators use moments of play to nurture children’s development across many domains: emotional, social, cognitive, physical, and creativity. Below, we look at how teachers make that happen, using Australian best practices and examples, plus ideas you can see in action at playschool.

What Play-Based Learning Means According to Experts

• According to C&K in Australia, play-based learning allows children to organize and make sense of their social worlds as they actively engage with people, objects, and representations. Teachers use children’s curiosity as a starting point for building literacy, numeracy, and social skills. candk.asn.au

• Goodstart Early Learning describes play-based learning as natural inquiry. Educators observe each child’s emerging interests and strengths, and then build learning experiences around those so concepts like counting, problem-solving, or building vocabulary happen through play. Goodstart Corporate+1

How Teachers Create Learning Moments During Play

Here are real-life examples of how play becomes learning:

1. Following Children’s Interests When kids become fascinated with something—like leaves, insects, or water—teachers at C&K might support this interest by setting up related resources. For example, children playing with mud might be offered tools to measure water content or observe textures, turning that play activity into science and mathematics learning. candk.asn.au

2. Guided Play to Introduce Conceptual Learning At Goodstart, puzzles, blocks, or games are used not only for fun but to teach matching, shape recognition, counting, and early problem-solving. A teacher introducing a puzzle might talk with children about shapes, compare sizes, count the pieces—hidden learnings woven into play. Goodstart Corporate+2Goodstart Corporate+2

3. Social Skills & Emotional Learning in Pretend Play Teachers in Australian early childhood centres observe children playing in "home corners" or dramatic play zones (pretend kitchen, shop, etc.). These settings are used for learning cooperation, empathy, turn-taking, language — as kids role-play and interact. Goodstart Corporate+1

4. Outdoor & Nature-Based Play Centres like Mount Peter Early Learning design outdoor spaces with loose parts, nature materials, water play, climbing zones. Teachers use these spaces for children to experiment: balancing, exploring textures and natural phenomena, and building coordination and confidence. mountpeterelc.com.au

5. Intentional Questions to Spark Thinking Teachers don’t just supervise—they observe and ask questions. For example, in a sandpit, a teacher might ask “What do you think will happen if the water reaches this level?” or “Can you build a bridge to reach over this gap?” These questions guide children to think critically and experiment. candk.asn.au+1

Real Benefits Playtime Offers

From all of this, playtime yields learning outcomes such as:

• Improved vocabulary and early literacy skills

• Early numeracy: counting, matching, classifying

• Stronger social and emotional skills (sharing, taking turns, conflict resolution)

• Physical development: both fine motor skills (manipulating small objects) and gross motor (running, climbing)

• Creativity, imagination, and curiosity

What Parents Can Watch Out For & Support

To recognize and support learning moments at home or in playschool, parents can:

• Look for play that involves exploring, experimenting, asking “what if…” questions

• Observe when children choose activities based on what interests them

• Notice social interactions—when children take turns, negotiate roles, solve small conflicts

• Check for physical coordination (running, climbing, using fingers, drawing)

• Talk with the teacher about what your child is doing during play—what skills the teacher is encouraging

At playschool, teachers are not just supervising—they are constantly weaving in learning, helping children grow through curiosity, experiences, mistakes, and joy. Play isn’t separate from learning; it is the context in which many early learning moments happen.

By bringing playtime into everyday routines, teachers create a foundation of confidence, curiosity, and readiness for what comes next.