Play is a child’s Industry JOB Most important thing a child does Crucial to a child’s development during formative years birth to age eight! It is how a child learns about SELF & World related to self.

Young children are: Egocentric The world revolves around them and their viewpoint Self is more important than anything Unable to take the point of view of someone else

Implications of Play Enhances language development, Creativity, imagination Brain development (synapses) & thinking skills Builds social skills, promotes independence and lets children be children They learn to negotiate, take turns The way children play is directly tied to the way they think

From Play children learn: to figure out their world to control movement, to express thoughts, to get along in the world

Children Move from learning by accident to deliberate Learn to control movement Their own hand goes by – they see a glimpse of it – they eventually realize they can control their hand, move it bring hands together, point, all this is necessary to hold a utensil, pencil or crayon for example

Developmental Stages of Play Solitary Play Parallel Play Associative Play Cooperative Play

Solitary Play Age Limited interaction with other children a child playing with blocks alone in a corner.

Parallel Play Age - 2 ½ to 3 two or more children playing with blocks near each other but not talking with each other.

Associative Play Age 3 to 4 – normally mixed gender two or more children playing with blocks building the same thing, talking with each other but not working together to create something.

Cooperative Play Age 4 to 6+ - usually same gender Two or more children are playing with blocks building the same thing, shared aim, talking with each other and working together to create something.

Resources Stages of Play - htm Solitary play ture=related Parallel play ature=fvw