The Heart of Learning: Emotion and Play in Action
As someone who’s spent most of their life as a student, I can confidently say—learning can sometimes feel tedious. It’s easy to get stuck in the monotony, and frustration builds quickly when things don’t “click” as fast as we—or those around us—might expect. That’s why learning through play, especially for kids, is such a game-changer. Turning tasks into fun challenges—like racing the clock or seeing how many times they can do something before making a mistake—can breathe fresh energy and joy into the learning process. And it’s not just fun; interacting with the world around us is one of the most powerful ways children learn and a key part of healthy brain development.
We also know that emotions and memory are deeply connected—experiences tied to strong emotions tend to stick with us much longer. In medicine, there’s a running joke: if you’re put on the spot by an attending in front of the whole team and get the answer wrong, you’ll never forget it. The embarrassment brands the memory into your brain. And while I can confirm that’s true from personal experience, it’s definitely not the method I recommend. Instead, the true power lies in pairing learning with positive emotions. Joy, laughter, and connection create the perfect environment for lasting learning. When your child is engaged, happy, and having fun, they’re not just enjoying the moment—they’re building stronger memories and deeper understanding that will stay with them for years to come.
Here are some ideas to keep learning more fun and engaging through play:
For fine motor skills see how many of a letter they can write on a line or picking out the best look alike of a given number or letter and see if you and your child agrees or have them take play-do and make 3D letters that they roll out
Try a treasure hunt that requires solving simple math, puzzles, or riddles, to get the next clue “count 3 blue objects in the room” “tell me two words that rhyme with room” “add 2+5”, clues can take the to different areas in the house or even in whatever room you’re in-this builds math, critical thinking, and phonological awareness skills (and so many others depending on the types of clues given)
Build a story together taking turns to tell the next line in the story-this builds collaboration, story telling, and creativity
To enhance executive function skills try block building, musical freeze, and pretend play
For motor skills playing catch, climbing, and playing tag or keepy-upie to develop hand-eye coordination, balance, and strength
Further reading:
Swiss Medical Weekly Article: The impact of emotion on perception, attention, memory, and decision
TCU Article: The Benefits of Play in Cognitive Development
Disclaimer: This blog isn’t connected to my role as a physician, and nothing here should be considered medical advice.