Can guidance during play enhance children’s learning and development in educational contexts? A systematic review and meta-analysis

systematic review and meta-analysis · 2022

Who was studied

Studies involving children aged 1–8; 39 studies in the review, 17 in the meta-analysis.

What the research found

Guided play showed advantages for some mathematics, spatial-language and task-switching outcomes, depending on the comparison. Benefits were not consistent across all measured outcomes.

Limitations

Studies differed in intervention, comparison condition and outcome; the findings do not establish a universally superior approach.

What this does not establish

That any particular commercial activity, printable, or home routine produces the reported effects.

Read the original source

Can guidance during play enhance children’s learning and development in educational contexts? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Source checked: 2026-10-21. Journal full text opened and reviewed.

Read a practical parent guide

• Guided play at home: a useful goal, room for a child’s ideas