Episode 51 - Learning through play parTS 1 2 

Lisa Murphy, author of Play: The Foundation of Children's. Learning and founder and CEO of Ooey Gooey, Inc, joins us for for a discussion on the importance of play. 

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Preschool and Beyond -Learning Through Play Parts 1 and 2

Episodes 47 and 51

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​Play as Foundation of Learning

• 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

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