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.
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
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), (2012) states that the role of the practitioner is crucial in observing and reflecting on children’s spontaneous play, building on this by planning and providing a challenging environment which supports specific areas of children’s learning and extends and develops children’s language and communication in their play. (See appendix 1 note 2) Another role of the practitioner is to work professionally and responsibly such as to ‘work as part of the team, work with parents and partners, participate in providing an environment that is welcoming and stimulating’ (Tassoni P, et.al, 2007 page 137) and to meet the learning needs of each individual child by providing a range of activities and experiences. A1 While attending placements I have worked to support the learning needs of children in this particular role by working with my supervisor, other staff members and parents or carers. When doing this, practitioners should always be professional, for example using a polite tone of
You must be professional and approachable to children giving them lots of praise and eye contact. If you do this the child feels comfortable around you. If the child feels happy and comfortable and able to trust you then you are making the right impression on them. Allowing the child to come to you when they feel uncomfortable or they need assistance with something. Children tend to role play themselves through play playing schools and playing the role of teachers, playing mums and dads, etc so this proves that the way in which adults behave has a strong impact on how children look up to adults as role models.
I even cheer them on when they struggle with a task. To develop a sense of independence and pride, I let the children each day choose the classroom helpers. There are many tasks that the children are able to choose from. I structure the environment to offer opportunities for children to share information about themselves, their families, and experiences. I make it easier for the children to explore new experiences and the environments by making them feel assured of the support and availability of me, thus increasing his confidence.
Philosophy Statement I love being a part of a child’s growth and development. I believe children learn best through spontaneous, meaningful, safe play. I believe it helps them to grow and develop in a positive way. I believe this type of play helps their social skills, their brain development and their self help, just to name a few. Play promotes curiosity, discovery, and problem solving, which helps develop a positive self image for the individual child.
Creative learning and creativity links in with everything, the ability to express ones feelings and also a means for self-expression. Creativity and creative learning can help children with social, intellectual and communication as children enjoy taking part in role play. Role play includes children socialising and playing in groups, they communicate with one another. It also helps them with physical development through them doing mark making to express their emotions. Mark making also
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.
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.