Children & PlayChildren & Play

22ndnd Yr. Education Students Yr. Education Students University of Prince Edward Island University of Prince Edward Island Brenda Goodine, Masters StudentBrenda Goodine, Masters StudentSeptember 23, 2009September 23, 2009

What do you see?What do you see?

What is play? What is play?

Educator Role

Environment

Developmental Domains

Cognitive & Sociodramatic

Levels of Social Play

Functions

Play

What is Play? What is Play?

Play is not a break from learning—it’s the Play is not a break from learning—it’s the way young children learn.way young children learn.

( Children’s Advocate Bulletin June 2007)( Children’s Advocate Bulletin June 2007)

Play “paves the way for learning.”Play “paves the way for learning.”

( Kalliala 2006) ( Kalliala 2006)

How do these statements resonate with you? How do these statements resonate with you?

Play is………….Play is………….

Individual Or

Group

Freedom Of

Choice

Motivating

Flexible Enjoyable

Self- selected

voluntary

Open-ended

Self- directed

Play

Educator’s intention and Educator’s intention and Child’s intention…………. Child’s intention………….

From the research……….From the research……….

Play is defined as behaviour that is Play is defined as behaviour that is freely freely chosen,chosen, personally directedpersonally directed and and intrinsically intrinsically motivatedmotivated ( Government of Vale of ( Government of Vale of Glamorgan, UK 2009) Glamorgan, UK 2009)

Play is activities that are freely chosen and Play is activities that are freely chosen and directed by children and arise from intrinsic directed by children and arise from intrinsic motivation ( Miller & Almon 2009) motivation ( Miller & Almon 2009)

How do these definitions resonate with you? How do these definitions resonate with you?

From the From the research………….research………….

Functions Of Play Make sense of the world

Expand social & cultural understandingsLearn to consider other people’s perspectives

Practice flexible & divergent thinking Encounter & solve real problems

Express thoughts & feelings Negotiate play roles & plans

Develop self-control Extend language & literacy skills

Enhance brain & motor development

What learning and What learning and development is occurring development is occurring through this play? through this play?

Developmental Developmental Domains….Domains….

Child

Cognitive

Social

Emotional

Physical

Spiritual

What are these children What are these children learning through their play? learning through their play?

From the From the research………….research………….

Solitary

Cooperative Associative

Parallel

Passive Play

Levels Of

Social Play

What levels of social play What levels of social play do you see? do you see?

What levels of social play What levels of social play do you see? do you see?

Cognitive Cognitive play………………..play………………..

Dramatic Pretend

Play

Constructive Play

Functional Practice Play

Games with Rules

Functional -Practice playFunctional -Practice play

Functional-Practice play Functional-Practice play

Constructive- Dramatic Constructive- Dramatic play play

Dramatic- pretend playDramatic- pretend play

Cognitive & social Cognitive & social domains domains ………………………..………………………..

Socio-dramatic Play Head taller

Develop abstract thinking

Sense of control

Learn how to relate to peers

Solve problems safelyMake sense of the world

Language &Vocabulary

Memory abilities

Enhances reasoning

Flexible Inventive thinking

Environment & Provision Environment & Provision for Play ………………for Play ………………

Educator’s role & real Educator’s role & real world experience ……world experience ……

Educator's role & Educator's role & Provisions Provisions

What is the balance? What is the balance?

Effective curriculum and pedagogy is Effective curriculum and pedagogy is planned, intentional, child-centred and planned, intentional, child-centred and adult guided. ( A Compendium To: With adult guided. ( A Compendium To: With Our Best Future in Mind, Early Learning Our Best Future in Mind, Early Learning Ontario 2009)Ontario 2009)

Thank You Thank You

Please take time to complete an evaluationPlease take time to complete an evaluation

Brenda R. Goodine Brenda R. Goodine Bridges Program, Bridges Program, Early Childhood Development AssociationEarly Childhood Development Associationof PEI & Dept. Education and Early of PEI & Dept. Education and Early Childhood Development Childhood Development 569-7581569-7581brgoodine@ihis.orgbrgoodine@ihis.org

References References

Goouch, K. ( 2008) Understanding playful pedagogies, play narratives and play spaces. Goouch, K. ( 2008) Understanding playful pedagogies, play narratives and play spaces. Early Early Years,Years, 28 (1), 93-102. 28 (1), 93-102. Readingonline Readingonline www.informaworld.comwww.informaworld.com

Hewes, J. ( 2006) Let the children play: Natures answer to early learning. Hewes, J. ( 2006) Let the children play: Natures answer to early learning. Lessons in Learning Lessons in Learning Canadian Council on Learning. Canadian Council on Learning.

Hirsh-Pasek, K. & Golinkoff, R.M. (2008). Why play = learning. Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Hirsh-Pasek, K. & Golinkoff, R.M. (2008). Why play = learning. Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development: Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Development, 1-7.Development: Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Development, 1-7.

Saskatechewan Ministry of Education, (2008) Saskatechewan Ministry of Education, (2008) Play and Exploration; Early Learning Guide.Play and Exploration; Early Learning Guide.

Smith, P.K. & Pellegrini, A. (2008) Learning through play. In: Tremblay R.E., Barr, Smith, P.K. & Pellegrini, A. (2008) Learning through play. In: Tremblay R.E., Barr, Encyclopedia on Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development: Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Development, Early Childhood Development: Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Development, 1-6 1-6

Readingonline Readingonline www.child-enecyclopedia.com/documents/Smith-PellegriniANGxp.pdfwww.child-enecyclopedia.com/documents/Smith-PellegriniANGxp.pdf ..