Essay On The Role Of Play

Reflect on the role of play in relation to children’s physical, emotional, social and language development.

The term play is difficult to define as every individual has their own interpretation of what is defined as play and what is not. One definition given is that “play is to engage in games or other activities for enjoyment rather than for a serious or practical purpose” Concise Oxford English Dirctionary (2001). On the other hand, Children’s Play Council, (2002) defines play as “freely chosen, personally directed and intrinsically motivated behaviour that actively engages the child”. Therefore no two definition will be the same.

Initially, Children were seen as “little adults” where childhood was no different to adulthood as stated

The prime areas of learning are: communication and language, physical development, personal, social and emotional development which are implemented throughout the specific areas of learning which are: literacy, mathematics, understanding the world, expressive arts and design. (EYFS 2014)

Play can improve the physical development of children as “Physical activity in childhood is important…as a variety of sources indicate a direct relationship between physical activity and children’s health (Hope:2007 cited in Gleave.J. Cole-Hamilton.I 2012). There is a “close link between intellectual development and physical play as the brain needs to control the nerve system and muscles before physical activity can happen” (Andrews 2012 pg 83). Physical activity will increase the ability to control muscles and build muscle strength through experience as “In early childhood physical exercise helps build strong bones, muscle strength and lung capacity” (Lindon 2007 cited (Gleave.J. Cole-Hamilton.I 2012). In addition children will have the ability to use their muscles for longer and they will become more skilful in being able to control the action of their muscles, therefore it will be more effective and use less of the bodes energy because “As a child 's bones and muscles grow, they become more willing and able to move their bodies” (Bjorklund.D, Blasi.C.H. 2011:159) For example a toddler may take a wide loop round

He wrote the zone of proximal development which is the area of development adjacent to the one in which the child currently stands (the zone of actual development) (Crowley.K. 2014). The outer circle represents the zone of potential development which is what the child can do now. The zone of proximal development is the area of potential growth that is just beyond and within reach of the child’s current capabilities. Vygotsky’s argued that it was the influence of more experienced others such as other children and adults that could lead the child to the achievements of the zone of proximal development by showing them. (Andrews.M.2012:100). This lead to brunner coming up with the idea of scaffolding, it refers to the level of help an adult or competent older person gives a child which is important to get right for the child to