The playful learning curriculum: A randomized controlled trial

The study investigates the effect of introducing a play-based learning programme in kindergartens, and how the programme affects the children’s learning foundation at the start of school. The research questions are:

1. Does the play-based learning programme, supported by a one-day training course for kindergarten teachers and a resource website, have a positive effect on five-year-olds’ learning foundation at the start of school?
2. Do children who scored low on pretests benefit more from the intervention?
3. Do children from families with low socioeconomic status benefit more from the intervention?

The study shows that the kindergartens that introduced play-based learning achieved a significant effect on children’s mathematics skills and numerical understanding, but no noticeable effects on working memory or vocabulary. The findings indicate that a well-planned, age-appropriate programme focusing on play-based learning can enhance children’s mathematics skills. However, the results did not show any additional benefit from the intervention for children with low results prior to the test, nor for children of parents with low levels of education.

The researchers conducted a randomised control study in Norway with kindergarten teachers from 19 kindergartens in Drammen and 77 kindergartens in Rogaland. All the kindergartens initiated play-based learning for children in their final year of kindergarten, when they were approximately 5 years old. The kindergartens were divided into two groups: an intervention group with 49 kindergartens and 704 children, who were to carry out play-based learning for at least eight hours per week for nine months, and a control group with 47 kindergartens and 609 children who continued as usual. 92% of the children participated in the pre-test, 87% participated in the post-test. The tests included mathematics skills, vocabulary, numerical comprehension and working memory.

Størksen, I., Rege, M., Solli, I. F., ten Braak, D., Lenes, R., & Geldhof, G. J. (2023). The playful learning curriculum: A randomized controlled trial. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 64, 36–46.