Play-Based Learning at Licensed Daycares in Saskatchewan | Daisy Days Regina SK

At Daisy Days Daycare in Regina SK, play isn’t an interruption to learning — it IS the learning. Saskatchewan’s approach to early childhood education embraces play-based learning as the most effective way to build the cognitive, social, emotional, and physical skills children need for Kindergarten and lifelong success.

What Is Play-Based Learning?

Play-based learning is structured, intentional early childhood education delivered primarily through play experiences — both child-initiated and educator-guided. At Daisy Days Daycare in Regina SK, our ECE educators design every room, every activity, and every daily routine to maximize learning through play.

Play-based learning is NOT unstructured free time. It is purposeful, observed, and extended by educators who know exactly what developmental goals each play experience is building.

Why Play Is the Best Way for Children Under 6 to Learn

Decades of developmental research confirm:

• Executive function development: Make-believe play is the single most powerful builder of executive function (self-regulation, focus, working memory, flexibility) in early childhood — the skills most predictive of Kindergarten success
• Language development: Rich imaginative play produces more language output per hour than any other activity — building vocabulary, narrative skills, and conversational competence
• Mathematical thinking: Block play, sorting, pattern-making, and measurement-play build more durable mathematical understanding than worksheets
• Social competence: Cooperative play with peers is where children negotiate, compromise, empathize, and repair social ruptures — skills no app or workbook can replicate

Play-Based Learning at Daisy Days Daycare by Age Group

Infant Program (Birth-18 months)

Sensory play, cause-and-effect exploration, attachment play with caring educators, language-rich narration of everyday experiences. Every diaper change, feeding, and cuddle is a learning opportunity.

Toddler Program (18m-3 years)

Parallel play transitioning to cooperative play, water and sand sensory exploration, building and stacking, early pretend play, language explosion activities, music and movement.

Preschool (3-5 years)

Dramatic play (house, store, restaurant), collaborative building projects, story-based play, letter and number play in context, science exploration, art as a literacy medium, physical challenge play outdoors.

Before & After School (K-Grade 6)

Structured games, creative projects, outdoor exploration, cooperative activities, homework support — all balanced to decompress from the more structured school day.

ECE Educators — The Key to High-Quality Play

Play-based learning is only as powerful as the educators facilitating it. Daisy Days Daycare’s ECE-certified educators are trained to: observe play for developmental cues, extend play by asking open-ended questions, introduce materials that scaffold skills, document learning for families, and plan tomorrow’s environment based on today’s observations.

→ Benefits of licensed daycare for toddler development
→ Kindergarten readiness in Regina SK 2026
→ Daycare vs preschool in Saskatchewan

Book a free tour at Daisy Days Daycare to see play-based learning in action.
306-807-3233 | info@daisydaysdaycare.com | 2007 Potts Crescent East, Regina SK S4V 2E5