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Monday, September 19, 2011

"The best things in life are free" and so is play

"The best things in life are free" 
(An American Proverb http://thinkexist.com/quotation/the_best_things_in_life_are/185051.html )


And so is play...
According to Cranbrook School's Curriculum and Ready for School guide
 

"Through play the children internalise concepts, solve problems, learn to share, work together and communicate with others."

"Research has repeatedly shown that children in the years before school, learn best through structured play. Sometimes to the casual observer, it may seem to be only ‘play’, but a closer inspection reveals that activities are carefully selected to foster the myriad skills and understanding needed for success at school". 




What is play based learning?
According to the Early Years Learning Framework book Belonging, Being & Becoming (p.6) play based learning is "a context for learning through which children organise and make sense of their social worlds, as they engage actively with people, objects and representations." All Early Childhood Educators should base their planning and programming around children's interests and play..."Play-based programs provide a wide range of active and meaningful experiences that incorporate choice for children, while enabling them to experience many of the organisational elements that are important at school." (Riverstone Public School)

Parent's concern's about play based learning; help for the Early Childhood Educator
It is common for parent's to be worried about their child's academic skills or school readiness and complain about the amount of play the child may participate in especially when the child is starting to be in the 3-5's age bracket of childcare. Early Childhood Educators are just that... Educators in Early Childhood that are qualified in knowing the amazing benefits of children learning through play rather than learning instead of play. School readiness is not the only reason why children should be allowed to play, but having an understanding of how play impacts school readiness might be helpful when explaining to parent's that children 'learn through play'.

Below are some articles that you as an Early Chilidhood Educator might find helpful:

Parent's concern's about play based learning; help for the parent
   
How to play with children (retrieved from Play with children)
Here are some of the best ways to make play with children.
  • Follow the child's lead but make sure the game is safe, don't allow it to get out of control.
  • Play with the child but don't take over, let the child change the game.
  • Listen but don't tell what to do.
  • Talk about what the child is doing and encourage, eg. "It looks like the spaceman wants to rule the world. What are the people going to do?"
  • Allow plenty of time.
  • Allow for experimenting and mistakes.
  • Don't compete with young children; this can discourage them from wanting to play with you.
  • Appreciate and encourage your children's effort, eg. display their works of art.
Play ideas for parents (retrieved from Play with children)
Here are some suggestions which are especially suitable for parents and children playing together.
  • Read stories and nursery rhymes - an everlasting favourite.
  • Hide and seek - make sure you are easy to find if the child is very young.
  • Go for a walk - listen to different sounds e.g. birds, cars, footsteps, animal noises, find different surfaces to walk on, eg. lawn, gravel, leaves (don't make it all a lesson, just let children enjoy the walk).
  • Gardening (especially digging, watering, playing in puddles!).
  • Helping prepare a meal.
  • Picnics.
  • Swings.
  • Painting with sponges and toothbrushes. Mix paint with a little detergent and use a sponge to make bubbly effects.
  • Songs and dancing together.
  • Pretend play - let the child decide who will play which role and make the rules.
  • Dressing up.
  • Puzzles.
  • Simple card games, eg. snap. Young children need to win more than they lose and need you to let them change the rules sometimes.
  • Kicking and throwing balls.
  • Carpentry.
  • Washing the car.
  • Letting the child help with the housework.
  • Take the child to work with you for a short time.
  • A trip to the shops.
  • Watch a favourite TV show or video together.
Below are some articles that may be helpful to the parent who is new to the idea of play based learning  

Remember...
Play is learning
"Play is very important for children. Through play babies and young children explore and learn to understand the world around them as they come to communicate, discover, imagine and create.
When children play they are showing what they have learned and what they are trying to understand. This is why play is one of the foundations of the Early Years Learning Framework. 
By using this Framework educators will guide your child's play by carefully designing learning activities and stimulating indoor and outdoor learning environments."





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