Lekbaserte

Lekbaserte is a Norwegian term describing educational approaches in which learning is built around children's play. It is commonly used in early childhood education to denote methods that place play at the center of curriculum design and instructional activity, with teachers acting as facilitators of learning rather than sole instructors.

The theoretical basis for lekbaserte praksis draws on constructivist and sociocultural ideas. Learning is viewed as something that emerges through active engagement, exploration, and social interaction within meaningful play contexts. An emergent curriculum often guides planning, informed by children's interests and ideas observed in play. Teachers record observations to identify next steps and deepen learning through guided experiences and open-ended materials.

In practice, lekbaserte environments emphasize open-ended play materials, such as blocks, loose parts, costumes, and natural objects, as well as dramatic play and outdoor exploration. The learning space is designed to support collaboration, problem solving, language use, and exploration across domains. Adults serve as observers and co-players, offering prompts, questions, and scaffolding to extend children’s thinking, while allowing children considerable autonomy to lead the activity.

Potential benefits noted in educational discussions include gains in language development, social and emotional skills, creativity, executive function, and motivation to learn. The impact on academic outcomes like literacy and numeracy can depend on how well play is integrated with explicit learning goals and assessment. Lekbaserte approaches require sufficient time, trained staff, and supportive environments to be effective, and may be combined with more structured instruction to balance play with formal learning objectives.

Across regions, lekbasert tilnærming is widely used in early childhood settings and is often associated with Nordic educational traditions, though its principles appear in varied educational contexts worldwide.