This essay will evaluate how a child’s toy can specifically help them develop with relation to specific theories. The theories of play that will be referred to are Jean Piaget’s, Lev Vygotsky’s and George Herbert Mead’s theories. The Toy that will be assessed is; PlushPups, family bigmouth hand puppets. The puppet set has a suggested age range of three and over. This is a conventional puppet set which contains 6 characters; mum, dad, daughter, son and grandparents. An advantage of this toy is that there are no specific ways to play with it; it can be used in any way the child wants to play. Traditionally the puppets would be used by children to act out scenarios, particularly family scenarios. The puppets also allow children to imagine their own scenarios and contexts in which to use the toy. The intention behind the toy is to help the child learn and develop. This can be facilitated by certain play with the puppets which could include acting out stories, exploring different role play opportunities and scenarios. One individual characteristic of this toy is that direct feedback can be given by adults; to reinforce any deemed socially correct behaviours. This toy would suitable for children aged between four and eleven because it is flexible in its uses. It can help on a basic level of increasing a child’s motor skills, to helping children understand complex social situations. Puppets can be used individually or as a collective depending on a child’s age and development. Piaget proposed that play and imitation where important for a child’s development. Part of this idea was the notion that children play for their own enjoyment. However when they imitate, they do so to understand the world around them. Piaget’s theory of play... ... middle of paper ... ...at social environment. Children again can develop this notion, through play and imitation. (Faulkner, 1995) Having looked at all three theories, how a child may develop through play within those theories and what type of play may be expected at certain levels of development, some basic differences have arisen between the theories. Although Meads theory like Piaget’s is set in three stages Meads theory has more in common with Vygotsky. Mead and Vygotsky suggest that children develop through play, whereas Piaget used the type of play a child displays as a measure of their development, suggesting play does not lead to development. And although there are similarities between Mead and Vygotsky, one major difference is that unlike Mead, Vygotsky does not theorise that there are stages of play, he believed there is one continually expanding zone of development.
Early Childhood is marked by a time in children’s lives when they develop “a confident self-image, more effective control over their emotions, new social skills, the foundations of morality, and a clear sense of themselves as boy or girl” (Berk, Kauffman & Landrum, 2011, pg. 45). According to Erik Erikson, early childhood is a period of “vigorous unfolding,” one where children have a sense of autonomy and a new sense of purposefulness or initiative (Berk, Kauffman & Landrum, 2011, pg. 45). Play is a means for children to learn about themselves and they begin to adopt the moral and gender-role standards of the society in which they live (Berk, Kauffman & Landrum, 2011). A negative outcome of early childhood is the guilt children feel as a result of excessive punishment and criticism by the adults in their lives (Berk, Kauffman & Landrum, 2011)....
Dr. Alison Gopnik’s drew the following truth that “children are intellectually more skilled and far more sophisticated in their thinking then we ever imagined”(Gopnik2009). Gopnik also stated preschoolers are extremely well designed for learning. They are naturally curious. They learn through exploring and playing. “The value of play” was also presented in Gopnik’s research. He clarified that when children engage in pretend play, they will have imaginary characters and explore other world. They are learning peoples’ nature, how people think, do, and work. This helps them understand themselves and other people, to improve their social traits or in balancing school, and to increase their social competences in life. Gopnik demonstrated the idea
Piaget stated that children function in a concrete world and therefore are unable to use language in an abstract way until about eleven years old. Consequently language does not afford young children the structure for appropriate self-expression. Piaget believed that children design symbols to communicate their wishes, ideas and emotions. This system of symbols characterises symbolic play (Piaget & Inhelder,
The toy picked for the toy evaluation in child and development psychology class was a Transformer for the suggested age of 3. A brief description of the Transformer will be given to identify the characteristics and how they are suitable or not suitable for the recommendation age listed. The toy will be analyzed on specific qualities that relate to how it can foster growth of the child and be evaluated on what the necessary abilities are needed to play with the unit. This toy will also be evaluated as it pertains to how the child would play with the car and if the child would be able to grasp the concept of the Transformer. Other cognitive concepts will be applied to how the Transformer is used and if the child would be able to understand the Transformer. The fine motor skills and gross motor skills used to play with the Transformer car will be another topic of discussion. In addition, the toy will be reviewed to how or if it would be shared within a social environment and if an adult would be able to participate in teaching the child.
Jean Piaget, a cognitivist, believed children progressed through a series of four key stages of cognitive development. These four major stages, sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational, are marked by shifts in how people understand the world. Although the stages correspond with an approximate age, Piaget’s stages are flexible in that as long as the child is ready they are able to reach a stage. In kindergarten, many of the stages of both sensorimotor and preoperational stage were easy to find. For instance, the teacher allowed the students to have a couple minutes of free time. Many of the students chose to go to the tree house play area and began playing house. This is an example of the sensorimotor stage of symbolic thought or the cognitive ability to have one thing stand for another (Bergin & Bergin, 2012). In this case, students were able to use play toys to create a “real-life” kitchen, and the students were able to play characters such as mom, dad, brother, and sister. I was also able to spot aspects of the preoperational stage during their free time. Many students played with inanimate objects and gave the objects lifelike qualities, this is also known as animism. For instance, one little girl in particular was carrying around a baby doll and kept feeding the baby, calling her Lucy, and talking to the baby doll as if it was real. Although features of the sensorimotor and the preoperational stage were easy to find in the kindergarten classroom, I discovered that it was challenging to find evidence of the concrete and formal operational stages in their corresponding, approximate age groups. I did not find evidence that contradicts any of Piaget’s stages, but I also did not find enough evidenc...
According to Curtis, Erikson referred to the ages of 4-6 as being the play age for children. Play is a necessary “form of self-expression and …is an important vehicle for expressing feelings” (Curtis & & O’Hagan 2003). Play enables a child to achieve control and gain confidence in him or herself. It is a chance for children to develop a cognizance about space, themselves and others (Curtis & O’Hagan 2003). Fantasy play is crucial to this process as it gives the opportunity to role play through various life experiences, both real and imaginary. “Erikson stressed the importance of the life- rehearsal element in fantasy play, suggesting that it helps children come to terms with social issues such as loneliness, failure and disappointment” (Curtis & O’Hagan 2003). These problems exist in everyday li...
In the early stages of development, it was noticed that children learn by playing. In fact, play, in a developmentally appropriate environment, inspires the child to relate oneself to the environment while making sense of the infinite elements where the children unites internal processes with external influences. Therefore, as children play, they learn. This theory demonstrates that the children learn while having fun. As the children internalize the sensations of the environment, they somehow integrate personal experiences to hypothesize the so-called impossible. This brings us to the concept of imaginary play where such play is constant as children relate their hopes and experiences to the new sensations. However, as their minds translate external experiences with personal meaning, children become masters of their environment and such environment may be defined as a continuum between the imaginary and the sensory (Bodrova and Leong, 2006). In addition, complex yet accessible relationships occurring in the classroom enrich the mental processes of young students. This is proven when children reflect on their environment, as they instinctively classify experiences according to both individual personality and the surrounding culture (DeVries, 2008). As children become familiar with the syntax of social knowledge, their worlds are somehow shared with one another to form a social imagination. According to Gardner (2007), a child struggles to comprehend new experiences, he or she will naturally utilize scientific notions of problem-solving and critical thinking. As the child begins to understand experience, social cooperation augments skills of perspective and interpretation. In one hand, shared activity provides a meaningful social co...
Piaget, J. 1962. Play, dreams and imitation in childhood. New York: Norton White, J., 2002. The child's mind. London: Routledge/Falmer.
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
Thinking back on my childhood, I first remember all the times I played outside in my backyard. I would pretend to dig up dinosaur bones or create imaginary realms of ancient lands; there I would perform diplomatic services for the people in need. I was usually alone, and those are some of my fondest memories. When I first decided to become a teacher and thought about what is important to my philosophy on how children learn, I immediately knew I was a strong believer in play. Although, many decision makers such as legislators and school district leaders believe in more academic types of learning styles, my paper will discuss why play is so powerful and important to children.
Children have a natural inclination to play, alongside a natural instinct to learn and to be curious and inventive, which are characteristics of the human race in general. This quote taken from Janet Moyles is a good starting point for this essay. It is well known that children love to play. If a child were to be left to his/her own devices they would happily play and create new worlds anywhere they were left. It has been well documented and researched that children learn excellently through play. However they are not always given the opportunity to do so, instead being told to, ‘finish your work and then you can go play’. Obviously this is not always the case, but the fact that it is a common practice shows that we do not all fully appreciate the importance of play to children’s learning. This essay will attempt to show how children learn through play, making reference to current theory and practice. I will also give examples from my own first-hand experience of how children learn and develop as people through play.
Theorists help us to learn about play and help us progress in relation to approaches and future planning. Vygotsky believed that imaginative play and relationships are important in relation to a child’s learning, and his theory was called the social constructivist theory. He believed that through play a ‘zone of proximal development’ is created, in which a child’s learns at the height of their potential. He argued against Piaget’s theory. Piaget argued that children did not necessarily learn through play but play just showcases and applies what they have already learnt. Piaget’s theory stated that there was two aspects to play – sensory and movement play and imagination, pretend and symbolic play. The McMillian sisters theorised the idea that children would find it extremely difficult to learn, play and develop without good hygiene and good health. Froebel also had strong opinions on the role of play. He believed in the importance of symbolic play, and imaginative play - stating it was one of the best ways for
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.
The purpose of this essay is to determine the importance of Symbolic play as a component for the development of cognitive and social skills. Play is second nature to children and they will naturally engage in symbolic play throughout their developing years. Play is one of the recognisable essential factors in children’s learning and development, cchildren’s ability to use language and talk in a practical way coincides with the rise of predictable symbolic play sequences. This is also supported by Deacon’s view that the reason humans are so unique in comparison to the rest of the species is our ability to theorize emblematically. (Deacon, 1997) Freud 1969 established the view that the role of symbolic plays was the skill of controlling impulses
The early part of learning is first being able to make decisions, solve problems, have exert self control, and follow rules. As children solve encounters that come up, they must exert control over themselves, accept restrictions on their own behavior, and follow the rules if they want to be worthy and successful in the game. In an article addressing children, a Professor of Psychology named Peter Gray