Learning through Play

Why learn through play? Developmentally appropriate – EYFS curriculum built around it; Build relationships – Personal, Social & Emotional Development Creativity – Expressive Arts & Design Develop language – Communication & Language Build strength – Physical Development Build blocks for specific areas of learning – Literacy, Maths & Understanding the World Problem-solving skills – Maths

Types of Play Physical play Games with rules Creative play Language play Pretend play

Physical Play Develops gross motor skills – large movements such as running, jumping, skipping Develops fine motor skills – smaller actions such as cutting, holding a pencil, threading Physical Development = one of the prime areas of the EYFS curriculum. 2 strands; Moving and Handling & Health and Self-Care

Physical Play Examples Gross Motor Play Fine Motor Play Play games outside – space to run Climbing frames, balancing, swings etc Building dens Ring games Dancing to music Puzzles & jigsaws Construction Threading Playdough

Games with rules Following instructions Dealing with emotions associated with winning & losing Turn-taking opportunities Often develop other learning too e.g maths/literacy Understanding of following rules Communication and Language = one of the prime areas of the EYFS curriculum. 3 strands; Listening and Attention, Understanding & Speaking

Games with Rules Examples Snakes & Ladders Bingo Junior scrabble Hide & seek Computer games/apps on tablets I spy Card games – snap, pairs

Creative Play Gives children freedom of expression Opportunity to recreate previously-seen ideas Opportunity to imagine and create from scratch Expressive Arts and Design = one of the specific areas of the EYFS curriculum. 2 strands; Exploring & Using Media & Materials and Being Imaginative

Creative Play Examples Painting and drawing Junk modelling with recycling Collage with old magazines Printing with fruits & vegetables Making instruments using rice & dried pulses in bottles Using found objects as instruments – saucepans, tins, bottles Role-play using props

Language Play Experimenting with language, words, letters and sounds in the local environment Singing and rhyming Communication and Language = one of the prime areas of the EYFS curriculum. 3 strands; Listening and Attention, Understanding & Speaking Literacy = one of the specific areas of the EYFS curriculum. 2 strands; Reading and Writing

Language Play Examples I spy Memory games – shopping list Rhyming games – rhyming dominoes, rhyming pairs Tongue twisters & nursery rhymes Jokes Talking on phones & walkie talkies Puppets Make up stories using toys

Pretend Play Imitating Imagining Experimenting with different roles Interacting with others in the same theme Problem-solving Dealing with complex emotions – empathy

Pretend Play Examples Role-play – dressing up box Use every day items as props – brushes, gardening tools, old phones, measuring tapes, money Making props – masks, hats, menus, telescopes Join in the role-play too!