SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH PLAY

PLAY IS A LANGUAGE For children play is a natural medium of expression Adults talk Children play Adults use words Children use toys

Social Play time Make friends Share Take Talk turns about Play Circle time Make friends Share Take turns Talk about feelings Play Express themselves

SO WHY IS SOCIAL PLAY IMPORTANT? Any ideas?...

How to share and take turns How to recognize feelings Social Play is closely linked to emotional development. Social Play teaches Friendship skills How to share and take turns How to recognize feelings in oneself and others How to control feelings How to problem solve

Friendship skills Social Play promotes friendships ????????????????????????? Do you agree or disagree? Why?

Why do we need friends? 2 CSEFEL

Do friends make us feel happier?

Sharing Young children do not like to share their toys. Social Play is an excellent way of teaching them how to share. ???????????????? Can you think of one example of play that would help children to start sharing?

2 CSEFEL

Turn Taking This is another important skill that can be taught through social play. ????????????????????????????????? Which of these games can be used to promote this skill in young children? Role play Board game Play dough activity Drawing/painting activity

RECOGNIZING FEELINGS IN SELF AND OTHERS Please LOOK AT THE SCREEN and choose one of the feelings which you are experiencing at the moment. (Try to avoid word “bored”… )

Key Facts about Feelings Feelings change You can have more than one feeling about something You can feel differently than someone else about the same thing It is important to learn how to deal with your own feelings

Increasing Vocabulary Circle time “How do you feel today?” –morning game Children’s literature Songs and games Play “How would you feel if?” Creative activities (painting, drawing, music, dancing, play dough)

Feeling Activities

Social play teaches how to control feelings Recognizing that anger can interfere with problem solving Learning how to recognize anger in oneself and others Learning how to calm down Understanding appropriate ways to express anger

Anybody can get angry… The important thing is how we manage to deal with our anger!

What kind of feelings do children experience in different situations? Do they deal with their feelings in the same way as you do?

Problem Solving Social Play teaches children How to solve problems in steps How to find alternative solutions That solutions have consequences

AND FINALLY… Try to remember everything that we have discussed today and answer the question: WHAT SOCIAL and EMOTIONAL SKILLS DOES PLAY TEACH CHILDREN? ???