Type of Play Play is very important in the child’s growth and development (Myers 2012). The type of play that is found in early childhood are things that use their hands, and minds. Using games/toys helps kids interact with other kids to create a social environment and comfort. Play also helps children learn in many ways (Myers 2012). You usually find kids playing with blocks, building things, and games that use their imagination (Guyton
Unit 82 promote creativity and creative learning in young children 1. Understand the concepts of creativity and creative learning and how these affect all aspects of young children’s learning and development. 1.1. Analyse the differences between creative learning and creativity. Creative learning is about helping children develop imaginative thinking through an exploration of materials, objects and problem-solving skills, such as construction and ICT and crafts.
It enables children to interact and participate in a variety of projects to encourage creativity and independence. This is a good strategy as it encourages children to construct their knowledge through the relationships they build with others and the surrounding environment. ‘’It is an approach where the expressive arts play a central role in learning and where a unique reciprocal learning relationship exists between practitioner and child’’. www.educationscotland.gov.uk/ (21/11/13). It is an important aspect to carry out when allowing children to play, as it encourages children to be independent learners, and allows them to understand and learn about life and the world.
Unit 82 Creative learning is about children being actively involved in their own learning and their ability to make their own choices and decisions. Helping children to develop imaginative thinking which can be achieved through exploration of a creative environment of various materials and objects. Helping children to develop problem solving skills such as construction and Ict. Providing children with opportunities to make connections between different areas and to be able to relate to them. Some creative learning activities may be focused on achieving a goal for example making a den.
CCLD MU 5.3; Lead Practice that Support Positive Outcomes for Child and Young Person Development 1.1Explain different theories and frameworks of child and young person development Piaget Piaget’s theories allow us to take the idea of ‘schema’ into practice and use it to effectively plan for the development of a child. Using these ‘schema’ and Piaget’s stages (sensorimeter, preoperational, concrete operational, formal operational) we can assess where and how a child is currently learning, and plan activities and observations to help them develop into the next stages. High Scope The High Scope theory approach supports children’s learning through play. It helps children to develop their self-esteem, confidence and language. It encourages children to learn at their own level that they feel comfortable and confident with, therefore enhancing the opportunity for developing many social and intellectual skills.
The creative process helps us by teaching us about who we are, what we love and what we can give to others. Benefits Being involved in creative activities is fun and absorbing for children. Evidence suggests that it helps children to have positive experiences and develop important characteristics and abilities such as: • Concentration – Focusing on what they are doing. • Communication - Developing better communication through talking, listening, writing or pictures. • Language - Increasing vocabulary, reading and writing skills.
Assessment task – TDA 2.16 Support children and young people’s play and leisure Describe the importance of play and leisure for children and young people There are 10 important purposes on how important play and leisure is, in that it motivates, stimulates, supports, develops skills, concepts, language/communication skills, concentration and positive attitudes, demonstrates awareness/use of recent learning skills and consolidates learning. As long as the curriculum and environment is well planned and structured the children should become active learners. Hearing lots of songs, rhymes and stories make a difference to young children. The earliest months and years are very important. Even when you are cuddling, playing, singing and talking with your child it all helps develop their brains.
Unit 065: Promote Learning and Development in the Early Years 4.2: Explain the importance of engaging with a child to support sustained shared thinking Sustained shared thinking can be considered as an extended conversation with children which helps the child to develop an idea. It helps children to reach conclusions and explore different concepts at a deeper level by giving them the opportunity to process information and make connections with things. It develops analytical thinking, problem solving and linking past experiences and learning with new. This type of “joined-up” thinking is very important as it actually physically develops new neuro-pathways in the brain. For sustained shared thinking to take place children need to be concentrating
The important factor within the interaction is that the level of choice is appropriate for the child. Time is also a potential barrier to consulting with children. Kay (200) acknowledges that individual attention on a regular basis is an almost utopian concept in a busy ECCE setting, but stresses the fact that taking time to listen to young children may represent a step forward in their knowledge of the world around them. Regardless of the obstacles that appear (perceived or real), a supportive climate where collaboration between adults and children is encouraged is essential for learning. This involves active listening and reflection, in order to ‘…provoke, co-construct and stimulate children’s thinking and their collaboration with peers’ (French, 2007:27).
The most important role that play can have is to help children to be active, make choices and practice actions to mastery. They should have experience with a wide variety of content (art, music, language, science, math, social relations) because each is important for the development of a complex and integrated brain. Play that links sensori-motor, cognitive, and social-emotional experiences provides an ideal setting from brain development. According to Montessori, the essential dimensions of play are: Voluntary, enjoyable, purposeful and spontaneous Creativity expanded using problem solving skills, social skills, language skills and physical skills Helps expand on new ideas Helps the child to adapt socially Helps to thwart emotional problems If play is the work of the child, toys are the tools. Through toys, children learn about their world, themselves, and others.