...CHILD OBSERVATION – TYPE OF PLAY Children’s play can be defined by four main characteristics: flexibility, positive affect, non-literality, and intrinsic motivation (Krasnor & Pepler, 1980). Flexibility suggests that play behaviors vary from real ones (Lillard et al., 2013). Positive affect refers to the extent to which an individual is enjoying their experience (Lillard et al., 2013). Non-literality touches on the idea that play behavior takes place within a play frame rather than reality (Lillard et al., 2013). Intrinsic motivation is a self-directed behavior performed solely for personal pleasure (Lillard et al., 2013). Based off these characteristics, researchers can infer that play is extremely important to the development of children...
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...Unit 6: Supporting Children’s Play. 1.1 Explain what is meant by ‘the play environment’ Play environment is making sure that both the indoor and outdoor environment is safe and suitable for each individual child to play within. To make the indoor environment of a nursery setting you must be able to provide the correct temperature for each room because you don’t want the children to get too hot and stuffy, but you also don’t want them to catch a cold. Making sure the room is at the correct temperature will make the atmosphere comfortable for the children to contribute positively to their learning. In the summer you should provide air conditioning systems or fans to keep the children cool, and in the winter you should provide heating so that...
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...Throughout this paper the debate ‘is play necessary for development?’ will be explored. However, more specifically the benefits that play can have for a child’s development will be examined in depth. This will be accomplished by citing previous research relating to this topic. In order to fully investigate how play impacts a child’s development, two underlying questions must first be addressed: first, what causes play to occur in the first place; second the function this recreational activity has for a child’s development? As play can be defined by being unpromted, natural act, its benefits can be heightened through the concept of “scaffolding”. The theory of scaffolding proposed by Vygotsky refers to the “assistance or structuring provided...
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...TASK 1 ESSAY PLAN Introduction Definition of Play and play types Play theories Infant development Play in a home setting and parent’s influence Adult support in play Play at an Early years Foundation setting Role of practitioners Montessori practice and principles, uniting work and play Influence on physical, social, cognitive and emotional development Conclusion TASK 2 INTRODUCTION Play is a crucial element in children’s learning and development, especially in their formative years from birth to six years of age. Play doesn’t have a set definition as such as it is so complex and there are many different play types and play theories I will cover briefly in this essay. My main aim is to explore and discuss how play affects children from infancy to and through the early years foundation setting. I will focus on how parents influence and support play and the very important role practitioners have once children start nursery. This essay will also draw on key Montessori principles and practices where work and play are unified and show how much play contributes and is vital to children’s physical, social, cognitive and emotional development. In conclusion I hope it becomes clear how play is an absolute key factor in learning and preparing children for tackling more demanding tasks in the future. TASK 3 QUOTES According to Macleod-Brudenell and Kay (2008, p207) “play underpins all development and learning for children young and old”. A child naturally wants...
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...Explain why play is important to the holistic development of the young child. Explain how and why children’s play changes over the first six years of life. Include examples to support your explanation. To begin this essay, I have asked myself ‘what is play?’ The Oxford English Dictionary cites many definitions for the word ‘play’. One can watch a play, play truant, play up, play football, play cards or play an instrument. Child development theorists have published a great many works on play and its impact on child development. Hutt et al (1989) (as quoted in Wood & Attfield (2005)) argued that play is “a jumbo category that encompasses a multiplicity of activities, some of which are conducive to learning, but many of which are not.” Wood & Attfield (2005) wrote that “play involves a wide range of behaviours, have multiple meanings for both children and adults and can be regarded as serious or trivial. It can be highly motivated or just plain messing about”. Moyles (2005) believed play to be “… a process which, in itself, will subsume a range of behaviours, motivations, opportunities, practices, skills and understandings …” For the purposes of this essay, I am focussing on the enjoyable activities which children undertake freely and spontaneously, alone or with their peers which brings pleasure, fulfilment and development. I will endeavour to explain how play is important to the holistic development of the young child and also how and why play changes during the first...
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...the explanation of teachers’ roles in children’s play stood out the most to me. I would take the message “teachers have six roles in supporting children’s play” with me in the profession of early childhood education. A teacher can be the observer, collaborator, planner, responder, role model, and mediator of play. Chapter 2 Take Away Message As I read chapter two, the explanation of teachers’ roles in children’s play stood out the most to me. I would take the message “teachers have six roles in supporting children’s play” with me in the profession of early childhood education. My take away...
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...Task 1: 1. Play is the best method for children to learn and develop, both mentally and physically. 2. Children of all ages, from different family backgrounds, cultures and countries, all love to play. They enjoy playing both outdoors and indoors. 3. There are different types of play, which include different theories, contexts and materials. 4. Play helps children to learn, acquire and develop the skills and powers which will be needed in their near future. 5. When children are playing, they are also self-educating, learning, working, experimenting and exploring the world around them. 6. Play can also increase children’s cognition, creativity, imagination, social skills, friends and peer groups. 7. Children, especially young infants, play with a new toy or a new object repeatedly with an unconscious mind. This is when they are using their previous knowledge and culture background, to relate and put images into relationships and orders. This is always an extremely active process. 8. Observe, absorb and mirror the important people around them is also another kind of learning for children. 9. All parties including parents, play workers, playmates and siblings make very important roles in children’s experiences. 10. Adults, parents and play workers, can help to ensure that children are playing in a safety environment. 11. Parents and play workers should help and support children while they play, because helpful adults can be good role...
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...PLAY: It’s the way young children learn A special supplement to the Children’s Advocate, based on a policy brief from the Bay Area Early Childhood Funders (References at www.4children.org/play.htm) generation ago, kindergarten was supposed to get kids ready for school. But now everyone is talking about the importance of “school readiness” before kids get to kindergarten. That’s why many parents, anxious for their children to succeed in school, want early care and education programs to have children sit at tables using work sheets, drills, and flash cards to learn letters and numbers and even starting to read, add, and subtract. But preschoolers learn differently from school-age children: play is essential to early learning. Play is the main way children learn and develop ideas about the world. It helps them build the skills necessary for critical thinking and leadership. It’s how they learn to solve problems and to feel good about their ability to learn. Children learn the most from play when they have skilled teachers who are well-trained in understanding how play contributes to learning. Most child development experts agree that play is an essential part of a high-quality early learning program. Play is not a break from learning—it’s the way young children learn. A time following teachers’ instructions. Several studies have shown that children learn more from educational activities that support their own interests and ideas. Some researchers have found evidence that...
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...Georgina Whitman 1/20/11 Play Play is something universal that can be done anywhere, at any time, and at any age. It is one of those things that have no language barrier. But what kind of play is the most important? After reading three articles that deal with different kinds of play such as deep play, play at work, and children’s play, otherwise known as child’s play, I believe G. Stanley Hall’s “The Story of a Sand Pile” shows that children’s play just may be the most important. Compared to deep play and play at work, children’s play seems to have no disadvantages or repercussions. Children’s play also can shape kids’ creativity and imagination. But what these three different types of play have in common is the fact that they bring everyone closer together. In “Deep Play: Notes on the Balinese Cockfight” the Balinese men use cocks in a type of play called cockfighting. A cockfight is a type of blood sport in which two cocks are put into an arena to duke it out against one another. The winner is obviously the last one standing. But what good comes out of this type of play? Although there are winners in these types of sports or any sport for that matter, losers are present also. The loser is often the one who is left with the repercussions. They have to deal with their emotion after the loss as well as scrutiny from others. This may be something hard to cope with as they are not used to this kind of thing. That is why child’s play is much better and more important. When...
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...An essay that explores the theoretical underpinning of a resource that relates to language development and its place in learning. In this essay I will be discussing the good old fashioned stick and how it can be used to support a child’s language development. I will be discussing the diversity of play through the stick and how this is supported by the curriculum and how it is also supported by theory. According to The National Toy Hall Of Fame, the stick may be the world’s oldest toy. Animals play with sticks; our dogs play fetch with them. Children have an endless source of make believe and fun with sticks. A child’s imagination can turn sticks into magic wands, fishing poles, swords, light sabres, majorette batons and ores for an imaginary boat and so on. Children cultivate their creativity and develop their imaginations when they pretend with sticks. Children build and walk with sticks, bat balls with them; they explore the outdoors as they search for the best one. Sticks promote free play, the freedom to invent and discover; they are the original building blocks for creative play. Playing with sticks encourages outside play which incorporates fresh air and exercise. Sticks are not only the oldest toys around they are simply the best. A stick can come in all shapes and sizes. They are not carefully made or presented like a manufactured resource. They are natural and rustic looking and that makes them appealing to children and wanting to engage with it. Like the old saying...
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...2.0 Literature Review Page 9 Abstract Children’s freedom to play outdoors and have no limitations is somewhat controversial in this day in age. There are numerous views whether outdoor play is actually beneficial or not, when it comes to discussing children’s learning and development. In recent government documents such as The Early Years Foundation Stage (2012), references are made about outdoor play and its importance for children regardless of the weather. Potentially, there is an adventure to be made every day when a child takes the classroom outside, and no where offers more potential. Allowing parents and practitioners to learn about the advantages of risk taking but also explore the big wide world can help children gain a better insight and knowledge of world they live in. The outdoor area changes with the seasons therefore presented with more spontaneous challenges resulting in developing the children holistically. This research study is small scale and intends to focus on the importance of outdoor play for young children but also investigate what knowledge and understanding both parents and practitioners have on the chosen subject. The case study will be carried out within a day nursery setting. The researcher intended to gain a wider understanding of the chosen topic – outdoor play, and the views of this within the setting but also see how the setting responds to the Government framework The...
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...Assignment Discuss the key aspects of Early Years child development in the contexts of providing support an appropriate child care setting Page 1 This essay will look at the key aspects of early Years child development in the contexts of providing support in an appropriate child care setting. The early years of a child’s life are the most important in terms of their general well-being, their emotional and social development, and their physical, intellectual and emotional growth. Bruce and Meggitt, (1999) claim that children learn more in the first five years than in the whole of their lives, thus supporting the importance of good quality early intervention in a child’s learning and development. As children grow and develop in a myriad of ways there are several theories of child development, each suggesting that children develop in a similar way, yet each also stresses that different parts of development are of primary importance. Maslow (1970) cited in Hartley-Brewer (1998) believes that children cannot learn and develop until their basic needs are met such as food, warmth and security. When these are met then a child must feel safe and secure before they can learn which according to Maslow (1970) is high up the ladder of needs before they reach the top which is self-actualisation. Geraghty (1988) suggests “love, security, consistency and continuous affection, and opportunities for independence lead to a positive self-image” (p.104) As a Sure Start practitioner...
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...better when they have the best learning experiences, this is important as it helps their brain to develop, and shape them into the people they will become later in life. The environment a child is exposed to, before birth and in the very early years will have a massive impact on how they develop holistically, as well as the attachment to the parent or carer. The curriculum is all the different opportunities, activities and experiences that is offered which help a child to develop in their learning. The different methods and contents used to support the child in their learning are vital. Babies are born with a natural instinct to play and learn naturally because of their curiosity and the people who actively engage with them to make sense of the world around them. There are 4 four key principles within the framework and are the main focus for all children’s learning and development. These are:- Rights of the Child, Relationships, Responsive Care Respect The main aim of the Pre-Birth to Three is to support everyone who work with and for our youngest children and their families, by adopting a long-term, flexible, and organic approach for the benefit of every child, promote confidence, inform the ways in which staff support children and families, and improve and enhance evidence-informed practice. http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/thecurriculum/whatiscurriculumforexcellence/learningthroughoutlife/prebirthto3.asp13/11/2014 Babies discover through their senses...
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...The importance of play Young children’s play is directly or indirectly appointed to their experiments, activities, experiences and events. The essay illustrates the attitude of play in different perspectives and how they links to Te whariki. The comparison of Sri Lanka socio cultural perspective and one of New Zealand socio cultural perspective describes follows. In the summary, the learning outcome referring to examples will be talk about. The definitions of play have stated many theorists. During the 20th century, children’s plays have been closely observed by theorists. Play defines as playing and growing are parallel roads to life. Playfulness describes the child’s creativity and action. Through play a child acquire self reliance to represent of his inner and outer worlds. (Wood, & Attfield, 2005). That children “learn through play” is a concept that has established to show the importance of play. It is the belief that play is necessary for a healthy grow and development. Play literate states that children declare their current interests and needs through play activity. Children control the environment, materials to acquire skills to going after exploration and practice. (Piaget, 1962). Play provided an ideal way of observe children’s natural interests, behaviours and moods. The children learn when they are ready. It describes the importance of choice of a child, and that ready is to understand to adults that the child is ready to early learning. The essential...
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...Parent and Teacher Involvement in Play Parent and Teacher Involvement in Play Parents and teachers have to understand the importance of their collaboration. Working together is a very important aspect of seeing how children learn from play. I strongly agree with implementing play in the classroom. Play itself is the work of children. It is a direct result of activities performed for self-amusement that have behavioral, social, and psychomotor rewards. Play is child-directed and the rewards come from within the individual child. It is enjoyable and spontaneous. It is an important part of the developmental stages of the child. With the use of play, children learn about shapes, colors, cause and effect, and themselves. They also develop social skills that enable them to work together with other children (Children’s Health, 2012). There are two main types of play. These two are known as spontaneous play and organized play. Children may work alone or in a group doing either of the two types of play. Spontaneous play is flexible for the child allowing them to select an activity for themselves. An example of spontaneous play is children playing in a park without any equipment. The children can run, chase each other, discover things in nature such as pine cones, or even play hide and seek. Organized play may be flexible as well; however, structure is provided by the teachers in terms of materials and equipment. It is well planned...
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