Successful Solutions Professional Development LLC Chapter 1 The Importance of Play

Chapter Topics Play is a child’s important work. They need lots of hands-on experiences with interesting things to look at, touch, and manipulate. They also need opportunities throughout the day to move and climb.

Chapter 1 The Importance of Play By definition, play means “to occupy oneself in amusement or recreation,” but play can also be defined as the “work” of children. Research demonstrates that learning in early childhood is best accomplished through play. Play is beneficial for developmental growth. It is important for teachers to understand the benefits of play to promote healthy development for children in their care.

Play is an essential part of childhood that provides many opportunities for spontaneous learning. Through play, children develop skills that they need to grow and mature, learn about the world, and experience meaningful life lessons. Play is an enjoyable pastime that serves both recreational and educational purposes. Research shows that play promotes healthy social, cognitive and physical development. A wide variety of activities can be categorized as play. Methods of play can be directed by an adult or determined by children. Chapter 1 The Importance of Play

There are six different types of play that encourage healthy development. Cooperative: Play with peers or adults Independent: Play of an individual Active: Physical Play Constructive: Building or making things Fantasy: Pretend play Rule-based: Events that have rules All types of play offer benefits and learning opportunities. When children play, they may combine two or more types of play. Chapter 1 The Importance of Play

Cooperative play is play with peers or adults. Frequent interaction with others is the best way for children to learn essential social skills. By playing with others, children develop skills required for successful relationships with other adults and their peers. Through contacts with people outside the family, children learn skills they can use to develop and nurture relationships throughout their lives. Chapter 1 The Importance of Play

Play of the individual, or independent play, is important because it lets children experiment, reflect, and relax. This type of play allows children the opportunity to practice making choices and entertaining themselves. Independent play should be monitored to ensure that children are safe, but children should be able to direct the activities according to their interests. Chapter 1 The Importance of Play

Active play involves physical activity and provides an enjoyable way for children to exercise. When children take part in active play, they burn energy, consume calories, and build healthy bodies. Through active play, children learn how to coordinate their brain and body functions to complete tasks and also develop motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Chapter 1 The Importance of Play

Active play often takes place outdoors, or in a large open area that allows freedom of movement. Examples of active play include sports, hopscotch, swinging on a play set, and movement games, such as tag or dodge ball. Due to the physical nature of active play, teachers should teach children safety tips and promote teamwork and good sportsmanship. Chapter 1 The Importance of Play

During constructive play, children make things. Planning and creativity are combined to manipulate objects for building. Constructive play focuses more on the process of creating than on the end product. Through building with different materials, children explore and discover how the world works. Using constructive play, children actively experiment with the objects in the environment, explore new possibilities, and use principles of simple mathematics and science. Examples of constructive play are building a tower with blocks, completing a puzzle, creating a model with clay, making a sand castle, or drawing sidewalk art. Chapter 1 The Importance of Play

Fantasy play requires use of the imagination. Children can experiment with different roles, places, and ideas as they pretend. During fantasy play, children choose a theme, develop a story, and act it out. Often, fantasy play incorporates the use of everyday objects or props that can maintain their original purpose or transform into another item. For example, a spoon can be used to “make soup” or become a “magic wand” to grant wishes. These props help children to elaborate and extend the play. Chapter 1 The Importance of Play

Fantasy play is very flexible. Themes for play are spontaneous and usually inspired by the children’s experiences. Pretend play may involve imitating the actions of adults or inventing original scenarios. Examples of fantasy play include taking a stuffed animal’s temperature using a crayon, playing dress-up, or pretending to be a cowboy riding a horse. Chapter 1 The Importance of Play

Rule-based play is structured and goal-oriented. This type of play is cooperative in nature; it must have two or more players. In rule-based play, organization and consistency are essential. Rules are initially developed by the game’s creator. It is important for all players to understand and follow the rules of the game as they guide game play. Chapter 1 The Importance of Play

Rule-based play often has a winner, but some games can be modified for young children. The ages and ability levels of the children determine the modifications needed for the rule-based game to be appropriate. Examples of rule-based play include Simon Says, I Spy, Huckle Buckle Beanstalk, board games, and sports. Chapter 1 The Importance of Play

The benefits of play are linked to the healthy social, cognitive, and physical development of children. Children learn many different skills through play. These may include, but are not limited to: Social skills Sharing and cooperation Following directions and making decisions Negotiation and conflict resolution Exploration Problem-solving Confidence Persistence Literacy development Motor skills Creativity Teamwork and sportsmanship Chapter 1 The Importance of Play

Play provides a natural way for children to develop social and emotional skills that are important for interacting with others. Cooperative play provides a meaningful context for children to practice verbal interaction with peers. Including taking turns, sharing, listening, and resolving conflicts. Role-playing helps children to experiment with new perspectives and consider the thoughts and actions of other people. Chapter 1 The Importance of Play

Play is fun! It builds children’s self-confidence and allows them to enjoy the company of others. Through play, children learn to work with one another for a common goal. The social context of play helps children learn about behavior and they practice regulating their actions and emotions. Chapter 1 The Importance of Play

Talking during play encourages children to make verbal connections between their thoughts and actions, which improves their literacy skills. Play also provides an opportunity to increase vocabulary. Studies have linked the quality of play in early childhood to future academic success. Chapter 1 The Importance of Play

For example, doctor-based role-play may allow children to learn the word “stethoscope,” a word that might be unknown outside of this context. Children need to use words in a meaningful way in order to master new vocabulary. Play scenarios allow children to demonstrate their understanding of new words. Some play scenarios require specific vocabularies and encourage children to learn unfamiliar words. Chapter 1 The Importance of Play

Locating something hidden or missing encourages children to use various ways of thinking. Problem solving during play enhances critical thinking skills. As children become more capable of solving problems, they build confidence and are better prepared for formal instruction in an academic setting. In play, children have opportunities to practice solving practical problems. Chapter 1 The Importance of Play

During play, children can practice and improve their motor skills in a stress-free setting. By participating in active play, children increase physical activity levels, which is a proven way to reduce the risk of childhood obesity. Playing can help to build and maintain strong, healthy bodies. Chapter 1 The Importance of Play

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