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Play is a framework for learning
The importance of play in early years education essay
Play is a framework for learning
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1.0 Introduction
Play is a common word used during the early year’s program in the current educational era. Play is been implemented as a subject in the current international school that I am attached too. Children play every day and it is now seen as being crucial to the development of the child (Tassoni and Hucker, 2000:1). Playing is a way of experiencing bodily, emotional sensations through engaging with the immediate real, imagined social and physical environment in any number of ways, when the player has a sense of control (Wolmuth, 2000:2). Thus, play carries a heavy weight in student’s early days. Tassoni and Hucker added by stating that playtime is often said to be child’s work carry out playing (2000:1a). Truly speaking, children get involved in activities when there is anything to do with play. In the current international school that I am attached with, there are many activities being conducted during playtime such as sand play, water play, dough play, etc. The activities conducted are layout differently every single week. The materials used are the same. On the other hand, after every activity, students will need to achieve the objective and learning outcome listed by the teacher during water play.
Apart from that, for implementation purposes, there are various types of play and explanations of the nature and the value of play (Lester and Russell, 2010). Play can be classified as a positive element as well as a negative element into a school curriculum. There are various educational institutions, which will support play to be part of the curriculum. In contrary, there would be the other sides of the party in which will not support play to be including into the curriculum. In this assignment, the positive a...
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Scherle,A,. J.Meyer .,& T,Sarah.(2014) Friedrich Froebel Theory, Available at http://ece205.wikispaces.com/Friedrich+Froebel
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Schumann,B.,(2004) Effects of Child centered Play therapy and curriculum based, Available at http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4684/m2/1/high_res_d/dissertation.pdf
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Tassoni, P., & K. Hucker, (2000) Planning Play and the Early Years, Oxford: Heinemann Educational Publishers.
Wolmuth,P.,(2000) The Importance of Play, Available at http://www.playengland.org.uk/media/135795/play-for-a-change-chapter-3.pdf
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Many theorists have tried to define play as a concept, however, no two agree on a set definition. Their backgrounds and induvial lifestyles influence the way they see the importance of play. Reed and Brown also believe that there isn’t an agreed definition of play because is something that is felt rather than done (Reed & Brown, 2000 cited in Brock, Dodd’s, Jarvis & Olusoga, 2009). In spite of this, it is clear that most theorists uphold the ethos that play is imperative to a child’s learning and development. There is a wide range of different studies and theories which helps us develop our own perception of what play is. In my personal experience I have found play to be a way of expressive our emotions, exploring and learning new things, thus
The second section will evaluate the importance of play on different aspects of social development and in various stages of an individual. The third section will analyze how viewpoints on function of play on development are shaped by historical and contextual factors such as culture and economy. Developmental psychologists use various research methods such as naturalistic observations, interviews, experimental research and examining the natural context of children’s everyday interaction within the family to study the role of play in children’s development. They apply different approaches to study different types of play. Play by nature, creates a natural learning environment for the child.
Sayeed, Z and Guerin, E (2000). Early Years Play: A Happy Medium for Assessment and Intervention. London: David Fulton Publishers Ltd.
Early childhood teachers often say that “play is a child’s work” while some parents ask ‘Did my child just play all day?’” (Rice 1). Many people do not realise how important play is and what role it plays in the development of their children. Teachers provide opportunities for children to have spontaneous, unstructured child-initiated play experiences by providing stimulating materials to “enhance and entice children into play” (Rice 2). These materials include loose parts and are open-ended and spark creativity by providing children opportunities to think, plan, and carry out their play (Rice 2). Limited learning may take place if teachers do not make play easier and maximize the benefits (Rice 2). Teacher support is also a necessary component
Interestingly it was through this process of sharing our professional experiences that we established the central idea of our exhibition. We had determined that the importance of play in the Early Years was a theme that was often debated by parents, colleagues and policy makers. By choosing this as our topic we hoped to have an enhanced understanding of the historical implications of play in Early Years Education, resulting in professional competence and the ability to guide and mentor others on the significance of play. Rodd (1996) endorses this importance of Early Years Professionals having the skills to build, establish and maintain credibility in the fast-changing sector of Early Years.
An Article by Dr. Leong and Dr. Bodrova (2016) stated that play is beneficial to children’s learning especially when it reaches a certain degree of complexity. When they engage in play activities most of their early years, they learn to delay gratification and to prioritize their goals and actions. They also learn to consider the perspectives and needs of other people and to represent things significantly to regulate their behavior and actions in a cautious, intentional way.
The word “play” has numerous meanings to different people in different contexts. Therefore it cannot have one definition and is described in a number of ways. Smith (2010) describes play as involvement in an activity, purely for amusement and to take part for fun. That play is “done for it’s own sake, for fun, not for any external purpose.” (Smith, 2010. P4) Therefore, as one precise definition cannot be presented for the word ‘play,’ it is described in a number of ways such as social dramatic play. Briggs and Hanson (2012) portray social dramatic play as the building blocks of a child’s ability to accept the possibility to step into another world, building and developing on children’s higher order thinking, accentuating the child as a social learner. Another example of play is exploratory play, which is described as children being placed in an explorer or investigator role, to identify the cause or affect a resources that is presented to them has. (Briggs, M and Hanson, A. 2012) Games are also another example of play. They are included on the basis that playing games with rules, regardless of age, can develop a child’s intellectual capabilities along with their physical, behavioural and emotional health. (Briggs, M and Hanson, A. 2012).
The role of play in child development has been discussed in Penn’s text and has been shown in various class films. Firstly, I think it is important to acknowledge how important play is to a child’s development. Penn (2014) argues that “play is central to contemporary understanding of childhood, but it was not always so” (p.134). This shows how Penn agrees that play is an important aspect of child development, however decades ago this may not have been true. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) has internationally agreed rights and one of the rights under participation rights is play. Penn (2014) states “to play, and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts” (p.131). This shows how every child has the right to play,
Play supports children’s physical development as when they are playing they are being active and exercising their body. It is important that children develop strength and stamina from a young age and through
...ctive. Play is an essential learning tool and one that must not be ignored within the classroom. It is a catalyst to help children develop socially, emotionally, physically and cognitively. It is not only an important part of a child’s development as a pupil but also a child’s development as an individual.
Isenberg, J. P., & Jalongo, M. R. (2010, July 20). Why Is Play Important? Cognitive Development, Language Development, Literacy Development | Education.com. Retrieved March 3, 2014, from http://www.education.com/reference/article/importantance-play-cognitive-language/
My topic links to the curriculum for Excellence as it emphasises that children learn through active play such as spontaneous play, planned, purposeful play along with investigating and exploring. (Scottish Executive Education Department,
Children develop normally when they are exposed to different types of play that allow them to express themselves while using their imaginations and being physically active. According to the Center for Health Education, Training and Nutrition Awareness, “Play is child’s work”; this is true because it is a child’s job to learn and develop in their first few years of life, in order for them to do this, they play. Not only is playing a child’s full time job, the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights listed play as a right of every child. Through their full time job of play, the children develop emotionally, socially, physically, and creatively. Children need to participate in child-led play in order to facilitate healthy development of their minds, body, and creativity.
Play is thought to be of central importance for young children. The idea of play has developed along with the history. It is necessary for the early childhood teachers to know some theoretical perspectives on play in order to further understand play and better working with children. This essay will introduce two theories of play, one of the traditional theories of play, which is The Recreational or Relaxation theory and one of the contemporary theories which is The Psychoanalytic theory. In the essay, these two theories of play will be compared and contrast, the implications for practice in the early childhood setting will be explained and the role of the teacher would be classified.
Before diving into my research, I reflected on the knowledge I already knew regarding play and play based learning. From experience, I know that play is an enjoyable activity for children, and even some adults. I know that there are different ways one can play. For example, playing with others is known as cooperative play and playing alone is considered solitary play. There are different types of play. For example, there is dress up or pretend games, which is considered dramatic, play and there is playing with building blocks which is constructive play. After my reflection I realized that I was more knowledgeable on the action of playing rather then the benefits of it.