Child’s Play Play is a Child’s Work
Play offers opportunities Children learn what is soft and hard, cold and warm, scratchy or smooth as they touch everything within reach Children learn what is heavy and light and they lift and throw things in their world Children learn what is sour and sweet and they put everything in their mouths to explore new objects
Play creates meaning Learning learn what does and does NOT work and they push, pull, fit, stack and destroy Children learn how to connect events, feelings, thoughts by symbolizing their experiences and acting out their feelings
Types of Non Social Play SOLITARY play Children play without regard for what other children are doing around them Child does not approach others Helps the child to be a thinker and concentrate on a task
Types of Non Social Play ONLOOKER play When children observe other’s at play Learn social skills and listen to vocabulary 2 years old
Types of Social Play Children play alongside others but not with them PARALLEL play Children play alongside others but not with them Children may play with similar toys but use toys in their own way.
Types of Social Play ASSOCIATIVE Play Where children interact and share toys but do not have a shared goal or engage in joint efforts May talk about what they are doing, share toys, and ask questions Enhances curiosity, communication skills and language development
Types of Social Play COOPERATIVE Play Where children interact with a shared goal Follow instructions of other children Observe division of tasks Develop sociability
Passive Play The child is not actively engaged in the act of play but rather being passively entertained by or minimally interacting with an electronic device. Example: TV Video Computer games
Active Play The child interacts with objects, movement and others Examples: Building with blocks Game like tag Coloring Sports Tag
Sensory Motor Play The child is engaged in play with objects of a textural medium Learning through the senses Sand Finger paint Play dough Water play Cooking
Exploratory Play Children are able to actively explore materials and environments Enhances learning through experimentation Examples: Mixing paint to make new colors Relationships between shapes Numbers and patterns Inventing new things
Dramatic Play Child uses objects, actions, and language to create imaginary roles and situations Makes a connection between what is real and the pretend world Provides and emotional outlet for them Examples Playing house Pretending to be an animal Re-enact a story Puppets
Skill Mastery Develop sense of accomplishment Do something over and over until they have mastered it They feel good about their new skill Kids love REPITION so they like to do things that they are good at over and over and over….. Example: Riding a bike Skating Puzzles
Constructive Play Child uses objects or materials to create a representation of something Symbolic thinking and pretend Hand on experience Good emotional outlet Example: Building a fort Sand castles Create things with paper and glue Clay, play dough
Benefits of Play Intellectual Development Child’s thinking becomes more orderly and logical Over time, play becomes more realistic and rule oriented Social/Emotional Development Peer group provides support Sense of belonging Self Concept and Self Development Develop pride and confidence in skills and abilities