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
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.
Social models looks at children using the environment around them as a means of being creative. Children can be creative by watching adults around them and imitating. Other theories include, cultural approaches, creativity as a process and lateral thinking. 1.3 Critically analyse how creativity and creative learning can support young children’s emotional, social, intellectual, communication and physical development. Creative learning and creativity links in with everything, the ability to express ones feelings and also a means for self-expression.
Avoiding all risks and challenge would result in a very timid adult lacking in many everyday skills and abilities. It would be very easy to respond to all risks to which children are exposed by not allowing them to explore or experiment. Children need to explore their environment – it is one of the ways in which they learn – but it needs to be a ‘safe’ environment where risk is controlled by adults. It is important that children are given the freedom to develop their skills, with adult support but not too much intervention. Understanding the stage of development a child is at and their individual needs can help you to provide the right amount of risk in activities, for example children under the age of 8 cannot safely judge the speed or distance of a car on the road, so a child under the age of 8 should never be allowed to cross the road alone.
CREATIVE PLAY How creative play can promote learning? Through creative play children have the opportunity to develop new skills. Creative play can promote learning for children aged 2-4 years through four main areas: Intellectual development - which children learn through solving problems, using different materials or equipment in different ways. Sorting, counting, matching and measuring, also by listening and following instructions by watching and copying what others do. Social and Emotional development - which allows each child to learn through fun and by helping people.
Vygotsky supports this notion and argues that family centered care increases children’s awareness through dialogue, child initiated play, and other engaging challenging explorations such as small groups interactions and the overall interactions with others. Reggio Emilia believes that family centered care is crucial in a child’s development. Emilia believes that every teacher should have learning and teaching experience. Not only should
| The student is very fearful, timid, or aggressive to others and cannot show emotions. Child does not have the ability to separate from parents without reaction. The student is not interested in fantasy play or playing with others. | The student will show some interest in others but will mostly remain to play parallel to others. Fantasy play is not involved.
This paper will discuss an example of how a child can learn through play in each of these areas of development. Learning through Play An age appropriate, content-rich environment that allows children to explore and play creates energy and enthusiasm that historically, has put a drive to development that is inseparable (Van Hoorn, Nourot, Scales, Alward, 2011). When teachers are engaged in children’s play it helps to enhance their learning through all the areas of development. Cognitive skills are developed through children interacting with people and materials in their environment. As they explore in hands on activities they are learning about patterns, relationships, problem solving and processing of information necessary to help them succeed in school.
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.
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. Skinner Skinners theories are used widely in practices as we praise children for positive behavior or for performing an action correctly, Skinners theory on negative behavior was putting a child on timeout. 1.2 Explain the potential impact on service provision of different theories and approaches I feel that we use a bit of all these theories and approaches in our setting. The children use their own choice and freedom to develop their own play. As each child starts in our setting, their parents fill in a portfolio, which helps our staff learn their likes and dislikes and their favorite toy, song and story.