1. Why is play so important? Review

2.  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?

3.  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?

4.  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?

5.  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?

6.  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?

7.  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

8.  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

9.  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

10.  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

11.  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

12.  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

13.  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

14.  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

15.  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

16.  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

17.  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

18.  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: