How Do Children Learn Through Play

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How do children learn through play? How does teacher intervention support or limit learning through play? Give examples from practice to support your answer. I will explore definitions of play in this essay and will then investigate the role of play in children’s learning. I will also examine the role of the teacher in supporting children’s learning through play and draw on from my own experiences of observing children at play. The term ‘play’ is widely used and discussed in various social contexts and age groups. However, there seems to be an absence of a universal definition. “Different people have different definitions of play” (Dobson, 2004, p.8). Reed and Brown (2000) proposed that it might be difficult to define play as it is ‘felt’ rather than ‘done’. Ramsay (1998, p. 23) defines play as a ‘vehicle for children to explore their differences and develop common themes that incorporate elements from many life experiences’. This definition provides a good insight into the concept of play however it does not encompass all types of play such as solitary play. Smidt (2011) articulates that through play children attempt to set and solve problems, explore and experience their interests and concerns and express and communicate their feelings within a context. This definition places the child at the centre of the activity and highlights the usefulness of play. It also raises questions about an adult’s role if a child is to be in control. Play is essentially a learning experience. It has an important role in social, language, cognitive, emotional and physical development of children. Play can be divided into many categories in the context of an educational setting two main groups seem to be evident, free play and structured play. Free play is where children choose what they want play, how they want to do it and when to stop and try something new. Free play has
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