Play is often seen as a break from learning, but research shows us that learning through play actually helps children develop important cognitive, emotional, and social skills that last a lifetime.

The UK is full of attractions where play meets learning—from interactive museums to hands-on science centres, outdoor adventure parks, and historic sites where imagination can run wild. Every trip can become an opportunity for children to grow, explore, and build confidence.

Here are five practical ways to encourage play-based learning, with examples of attractions that bring each way to life.

1. Encourage Child-Led Play at Home

Child-led play helps children develop independence, confidence, and decision-making skills. When children choose what and how they play, they learn to trust their ideas and explore creativity. Simply allowing children to lead strengthens problem-solving and leadership skills.

At interactive attractions like the MAD Museum in Warwickshire or Eureka! The National Children’s Museum in Yorkshire, children can experiment with hands-on exhibits at their own pace, making choices that inspire curiosity and confidence.

2. Focus on Learning, Not Winning

Play-based learning teaches resilience when children are allowed to fail, try again, and keep going. Winning a game matters far less than building perseverance, teamwork, and emotional regulation.

Outdoor attractions like Knebworth in Hertfordshire or Holkham in Norfolk give children safe ways to challenge themselves physically while learning problem-solving and persistence.

3. Support Imaginative and Creative Play

Imaginative play supports emotional development, language skills, and critical thinking. Children often process experiences and feelings through pretend play, storytelling, and role-playing. Simple toys and everyday objects can encourage deeper creativity than highly structured activities.

Offer open-ended materials at home— or take your child to attractions like Roald Dahl’s Story Centre & Museum in Buckinghamshire or Leeds Castle in Kent, where history, characters, and immersive experiences spark imagination.

4. Build Strong Family Connections Through Play

Playing together strengthens parent-child relationships and builds trust. When adults join play without taking control, children feel supported and understood. Shared play experiences also improve communication and emotional connection within families.

Family-friendly attractions like The Historic Dockyard Chatham in Kent or the Severn Valley Railway in Worcestershire provide opportunities for shared exploration where everyone can play, discover, and learn together.

5. Make Time for Play Every Day

Protecting time for play is essential for healthy child development. In busy homes, play can be the first thing to go, but it plays a critical role in mental health and learning. Treating play as a daily priority helps children feel balanced, confident, and engaged.

Regular trips to local attractions, parks, or discovery centres like Hertfordshire Zoo or Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium in Hampshire allow children to explore new environments, meet new challenges, and apply learning through fun.

Children learn best when play is hands-on—and what better way than at the UK’s museums, farms, science centres, and nature attractions? At Let’s Go With The Children, we celebrate every space that allows children to explore, imagine, and grow.

By visiting attractions together, families turn play into learning, discovery, and lasting memories. Explore our recommended UK attractions and see how play can become power for your children.

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