Preschool and Beyond -Learning Through Play Parts 1 and 2
Episodes 47 and 51
Play as Foundation of Learning
Examples of Learning Through Play
Supporting Play at Home
What Play Actually Is
- Play and learning are not in conflict, and exist together
- Play supports “house of academics”
- Play cement that holds foundation together
- Solid foundation important for later academic success
Examples of Learning Through Play
- Four Development Domain - Cognitive, Social Emotional, Language and Literacy, Physical Development
- Ex. Block Activity
- Social Emotional - Asking for blocks, navigating a block falling over, sticking with a setback
- Physical - Picking up blocks with fingers and grasping
- Language and Literacy - Signs that explain what something is, discussing what kind of block a child wants with peer. Descriptions of what they made
- Cognitive - Blocks following over shows gravity, asking for a certain number of blocks
- All of the skills we want children to develop later are learned through play
Supporting Play at Home
- Cultivate resiliency in children
- People do not know neighbors as well at they used to, many parents as a result less likely to allow children to play outside
- Do not need as many toys as you think
- Children love loose parts ex. Playing with pots and pans
- Classic toys such as blocks, markers, and crayons are ideal
- Building toys with instructions do not allow for as much creativity as others
- Play should come from child and not the adult’s agenda
- Children’s play is often deeper when parents are not around
- Children sometimes will look for approval if parent is right there
- Give yourself a technology break
- Show kids that there are other options besides technology
What Play Actually Is
- Peter Gray - Free to Learn
- It is freely chosen and can quit at any time
- Enough time for play
- Sometimes think that look like work but bring pleasure, can fall under definition of play
- Kids need more time and room for play than adults often realize
- Outside is the best for play because offers natural elements such as sticks, dirt, sand, trees
- Adults may not always understand the play the child has chosen
- Can be frustrating for child when they are not given enough time to finish play they started
