Children learn best when they’re doing. Hands-on learning is an educational method that focuses on active participation in the learning process. It involves using multiple senses and exploration, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills to promote understanding. Hands-on learning encourages independence, creativity, and confidence — especially in early childhood.
Unlike traditional learning methods, hands-on learning allows children to physically interact with materials and discover concepts for themselves. At Little Newtons, our learning daycares offer a structured environment that promotes hands-on learning. Read on to find out more.
Research shows that hands-on learning has powerful cognitive and neurological benefits that enhance how children take in and store information. Research cited by Structural Learning shows that, during tactile, physical experiences, many areas of the brain are activated, including those related to movement, touch, and memory. This activity enhances neural pathways, improving both comprehension and long-term memory retention.
Hands-on learning enhances the brain’s natural learning patterns, encouraging active exploration and problem-solving. Children who work with materials or engage in physical tasks build more robust connections between abstract concepts and concrete applications. This allows learners to grasp complex ideas much better than through passive observation or rote memorization.
Hands-on learning also promotes metacognition, or thinking about thinking. Children develop a greater awareness of how they learn, which increases self-efficacy and motivation. The neurological evidence supports what many educators see with their own eyes: kids learn better when they’re actively engaged.
Hands-on experiences can help to promote whole-child development in the critical early years.
Practical learning is integral to the development of fine motor skills in early childhood. Things like pouring, stacking, cutting, and building develop hand-eye coordination and precision, which are key to writing and other daily tasks. Physical activities support gross motor development, helping to build core strength, coordination, and spatial awareness and providing a solid basis for future academic and physical achievements.
Hands-on learning engages children in the exploration of new materials and environments using multiple senses. These sensory experiences assist children in improving their perception and processing ability as they learn to understand and respond to different sensory stimuli. Not only does this bolster cognitive development, but it also fosters emotional regulation and attention.
Early-learning leader Begin explains that hands-on learning inspires curiosity by prompting kids to ask questions and seek answers. When children handle objects or solve problems in their environment, they become more engaged with the learning itself. This enables independent inquiry, a critical skill that lasts a lifetime.
Teamwork, empathy, and communication skills can be developed through collaborative, hands-on activities. In preschool, children learn to share materials, take turns, express emotion, and solve conflicts. Interactive experiences promote confidence and emotional resilience while helping foster a sense of belonging and community within the learning environment.
Hands-on learning through play helps children develop a range of cognitive, emotional, and physical abilities.
Hands-on learning invites kids to be curious and inquisitive and to explore and learn through trial and error. Young learners who are actively engaged become confident problem solvers equipped with decision-making and analytical skills.
Providing children with open-ended play and exploratory tasks without rigid constraints enables them to express themselves. Activities such as building, storytelling, and role play stimulate children’s imagination and provide opportunities for innovative thinking.
Interactive learning captivates children. They’re much more likely to remain engaged and motivated when they can touch, squeeze, and probe materials. Active engagement promotes intrinsic motivation, making children more excited to learn and discover.
Hands-on learning provides children with a feeling of accomplishment and independence. This increasing confidence encourages children to seize opportunities and challenges during their learning journey and sets a solid foundation for future academic and social achievements.
Hands-on activities and innovative curricula engage children in meaningful learning experiences that foster curiosity, build skills, and deepen understanding.
Simple, age-appropriate science experiments expose children to observation, prediction, and problem-solving. From combining baking soda and vinegar to watching seeds sprout, these activities encourage curiosity and scientific thinking.
Cooking and baking offer the opportunity to learn about measurement, sequencing, and nutrition. Activities such as stirring, pouring, and kneading build motor skills, while following a recipe encourages reading comprehension and math abilities. Cooking and baking also encourage collaboration and patience as children work together.
Making items out of paper, paint, glue, and recycled materials offers children an outlet for their creativity. Activities such as collage making, painting, or sculpting help to build focus and planning skills.
Playing with wooden blocks, LEGO bricks, or other construction sets teaches children about concepts such as balance, symmetry, and spatial awareness. These activities support early physics and engineering concepts and help build children’s problem-solving and critical-thinking skills
Children learn directly about nature and biological cycles through gardening. As they water, weed, and observe all kinds of plant and animal life, they learn about responsibility, patience, and care. This experience not only promotes scientific learning but also supports social-emotional development as children learn to care for another living thing.
Hands-on learning leaves a long-lasting footprint by providing children with active experiences that support cognitive, physical, and emotional development and set the stage for lifelong educational success. Call Little Newtons at 763-402-5239 or complete our secure online form today to schedule a tour of one of our childcare centers and discover the benefits of hands-on learning experiences.
Chef Sammy by Quinn Dombrowski is licensed with CC BY-SA 2.0
