Why is play so important?

Review

Play: A pleasurable activity engaged in for its own sake, with means emphasized rather than ends. Play is not usually engaged in as a serious activity and is flexible in that it varies in form or context.

What is Play?

Children all over the world engage in play, for sheer enjoyment As they use toys and play games, they learn and develop Also find out about their culture & the world around them as they play Observers can learn about children, their

behavior patterns, and their development simply by watching them play

If observing, you will see concentration, intensity, determination, frustration, delight.

What is Play?

Play is educational Provides an opportunity to make important

choices and problem solve Allows children to use their imaginations and re-

enact familiar behaviours A special place where a child straddles the realm

of reality and fantasy (can be seen as a bridge between the inner world of imagination and the outer world of reality)

Offers routine and ritual A way to work out frustration and conflicts A way of making friends

What is Play?

A normal process in human development Provides children with means to make sense

of their world, learn, grow, and continue to find pleasure and enjoyment in toys, games and playful interaction with others

Children move forward in their development as a direct result of the experiences they encounter

Play is both intense & effortless

What is Play?

The three components of effective parenting and caregiving for children up to age five or six are: Play Comfort Teaching

Providing play opportunities suitable for each stage is an important part of all parenting and care for young children

Why play?

Babies enter the world and the realm of play with the discovery of their own hands and feet as they enter their line of vision

They stare intently at them, wave and kick them, even put them in their mouths

Reach and grasping is the next step They reach out and grab and parents feel

need to put an object into their hands Could be complex such as a multicoloured

intricately designed plastic rattle, or a simple piece of wood that has been smoothed on the edge of a stone

Babies first movements

Children will let you know when the next level of play is by turning their interest to a new toy or object or using a familiar object in a new way

Play is the classroom for learning about life Children engage in play using all their senses (they see,

touch, feel, listen, and smell) When they play, they are thinking, problem solving, planning,

and experimenting They are scientists, finding out how the world works. They

imitate and practice the roles of father, mother, older sister or brother

They imagine careers: firefight, jet pilot, nurse, animal trainer, hairdresser, actor, artist, baker, carpenter, astronaut.

They have conversation, resolve arguments, accomplish great feats, all in the course of a morning!

Play is Learning

Play supports children in all areas of their development

When using bodies to catch balls, jump, and run, they are enhancing their physical development

Puzzles, games, and other creative pursuits support intellectual development

Pretend games and dramatic play allow children to develop socially and emotionally

Not all play involves rules, but does have comforting rituals

Children practice their physical, verbal, and social skills over and over again, without being aware of it

Play is Learning

Play is therapeutic Has been acknowledged and used as a way

to understand a child’s sprit or mind Child psychologists and other child-care

professionals use play therapy to discover hidden emotions, frustrations, fears, anger, and hostility in children

Play Therapy

Play therapy professionals have children play with certain toys or objects in a playroom (like a dollhouse or family of dolls, cards, and trucks)

The therapist observes and takes note of how the child plays and what the child is saying during play

After several sessions, common themes and recurring patterns are identified

The therapist becomes more aware of the child’s underlying problems and may involve caregivers to make changes that will help resolve any issues

Play Therapy

Not all play needs to be organized The great outdoors is an adventure in itself!

A park, backyard, trail, or schoolyard can offer varied experiences

Safety demands that parents supervise, or join in!

Play is Discovery

Play is an expression of culture The toys and games used can embody a

culture’s values In urban North America, technology and

numeracy are highly valued. Toy computers, cash registers, calculators all bring the world of business into the playroom

Play is Culture

In hunting and gathering societies, spatial skills are valued, so games involving accuracy over a distance, such as throwing sticks and hitting targets, are popular

Play is culture

In societies in which language and linguistics are highly valued, books, alphabet blocks, paper, and writing tools are found in most homes

Play is culture

Children discover that if you add water to dirt, they can mold it and shape it into different things

Children draw with sticks or markers

They make sounds by banging on things or blowing on a blade of grass

Many games involve singing or music such as London Bridge or Ring Around The Rosie

Finger games and action songs integrate singing with body movement

Play is Music, Art, & Drama

Childhood is a time when children should sing or role-play without self-consciousness

They enjoy dressing up in old clothes and costumes and becoming make believe characters

Playing provides an excellent foundation for introducing children to the pleasures of music, art, and drama

The great thing about play

1. How does play contribute to human development? Provide at least FIVE ways

2. How can play be therapeutic for children? Provide at least TWO examples A WRITTEN answer

Answer on a piece of paper: