1 Teaching Through Play Chapter 20

2 Eager learners Countless questions Express learning in play art, music, science and literature

3 Learnings are reflected in the way children express themselves Need adults to encourage self-expression Adults provide time, space and materials for activities

4 Children and Their World of Play Through play interact with people and objects Solving games Play is a self chosen activity that children do for their own sake

5 Importance of Play Play seen as something done in their spare time Today experts know play is important

6 Play & Physical Development Improves muscles and nerves Help heart and lung systems Active children who play often maintain a healthy weight Improves balance and coordination Feel better than those who are not active

7 Play & Mental Development Play reflects what they have learned Learn concepts about their physical world Brings children in contact with objects Cause objects to do things Observe results of actions Observe the actions differ

8 Logical Concepts Classify objects as they set up a grocery store or repair shop Arrange objects in size order Number concepts form as they add blocks

9 Symbol Systems Selects most important aspects of an experience With dolls, a child mostly feeds, bathes, clothes and rocks baby Make props to go along with play

10 Language Repeat one or two words as they march around room or pretend to read Preschool try out new rhythm and sound patterns School-age children try rhymes, jingles and other forms of language sound patterns

11 Humor & Creative Thinking Humor is mental play Has to have good thinking skills Begins in 2 nd or 3 rd year Change from reality or the usual –Dog drawn with wings –absurdities

12 Play improves creative thinking Learn new ideas Can make mistakes without being corrected Making mistakes is part of the creative process

13 Play & Social-Emotional Development Greater awareness Develop trusting relationships Play more frequently with peers than adults Teaches children concepts of rules, rights, property, sharing and setting disputes

14 Children learn to detect others’ feelings Work out their feelings and problems through play

15 Stages of Play Play pulls together all aspects of development Stages build on each other When playing with younger children, their play fits the younger child

16 Types of Play Stages –Active-physical play, manipulative- constructive play, imitative-imaginative play and language-logic play Basic skills involved See Page 505 for Stages of Play

17 Active-Physical Play Use gross motor skills Large muscles for movements –Running, jumping, twisting, bending, skipping Learn about space around them Names for movements and positions –Forward, backward, over, under, up, down

18 Improve and test physical skills Pushing, pulling, lifting, and carrying Improves reaction time and balance Improves as body matures and child practices Become more graceful

19 Manipulative-Constructive Play Fine motor skills Develop after gross motor Eye hand coordination is involved Toys and materials promote fine motor skill development Jigsaw puzzles, small blocks, beads, pegs

20 Imitative-Imaginative Play Begins at 2 years Symbolic thought allows child to let one thing stand for another Stack of books (spaceship) Engage in short periods of time Repeat the same play over and over

21 Dramatic Play 3 to 4 years of age Role-playing with more than one child Child’s role is independent of the others

22 Socio-Dramatic Play 5 to 7 year olds Plays with a theme Assign roles Each child has a role Helps memory because they are recalling events Learn about real life roles through play –Be a barber, etc

23 Language-Logic Play Mental play seen in school age children Many types of language and word games –Chess, checkers, puzzles and word problems

24 Adults Role in Children’s Play Provide time, space, and materials Allow time for free expression Can join in children’s play when invited by child Let the child take the lead in play

25 Freedom to Play Toys that are of one use restrict freedom IE. Coloring books Adults restrict play by setting many rules for safety and other reasons

26 Allow Time to Explore Give children time to explore materials on their own Add materials or ideas Adult pretend to eat pretend food Adults need to rotate toys and add new ones from time to time

27 Display the Right Attitude Toward Play Adults need to see the importance of play Toys and play are important

28 Select Toys with Care Safe and fun Developmentally appropriate Preschool need gross motor toys and fine motor toys Toys should be balanced

29 Avoid giving too many toys that “perform” Battery operated Don’t allow child to be involved Some toys designed for travel and are good for in a car Should reflect positive social attitudes

30 Providing Enrichment Activities for Children Encourage creativity Experiences with art, music, science, and literature Help children appreciate both natural and creative beauty

31 Art Visual arts = painting, molding, photography Sensory experiences help child expand their concepts of color, line, shape, form, textures, and size

32 Stages of Development in Visual Arts 1) Manipulative Stage – play with art materials rather than use them to create artwork 2) Scribbling– consists of dots, straight, curved lines –Makes eye and hand to work together

33 3) uses basic shapes, crosses, rectangles, squares, etc

34 Representation Stage 5 to 6 year olds Create symbols that represent objects, experiences, and feelings Decides what the symbol is before they draw it May show a baseline in their drawing

35 May draw transparencies– pictures that show the inside and outside of an object at the same time

36 Adult’s Role in Stimulating Art Experiences Introducing children to artistic skills and art activities Supply right environment and supplies Let child do their own work Encourage by showing an interest in their work

37 Reacting to Children’s Art Tell them to tell you about it If they don’t know what to draw, suggest 3 things and let them decide

38 Music Children with a rich world of sound and movement will have a good background for later learning and pleasure Oneness between movement and music Need chances to move and a fun way to do it

39 Benefits of Music Experiences Chances for sensory and expressive experiences Listening to music can improve child’s listening skills in general Percussion instruments –first instruments usually

40 Adult’s Role in Guiding Music Experiences Introduce child to musical activities Listening, singing, and playing instruments Model enthusiasm Loving acceptance of child so they can become a skilled musician or singer

41 Science Born scientists Wonder and seek answers Test their answers Part of everyday life –Watch water freeze –Why do clouds move?

42 Adult’s Role in Encouraging Science Activities Call attention to the beauty of science concepts Visit zoos, gardens, and forests Children explore and ask questions Ask children to classify –Which are alike? – Which are different?

43 Focus of Science Activities Focus on what children see and question Explain science so children can learn about their worlds Focus on substances –Touch liquid, granules, and solid substances

44 Fear of thunderstorms= let them learn about thunder and lightning Cooking is a great way to learn about science concepts

45 Literature Entertains and is an important learning tool

46 Benefits to Children Books enrich life Answers their questions Reading builds their active and passive vocabularies Like to hear stories about others their age

47 Selecting Books for Children Stretch their minds and stir creativity Books need to be on their level Picture books go to story books Plan a follow up after reading a story –Includes talking about the book, find details in the pictures, and relating it to their own experiences