1. Development of PLAY

2. Play Perspectives Work of the Young –Explore their environment –Develop sensory & perceptual abilities –Experiment with behaviors in new situations –Deal with emotional issues

3. Play with CJ?

4. What is it? Internally motivated Focused on means, not ends Freely chosen Non-serious Highly engaging

5. Functions of Play Cognitive development is increased- Piaget –Exploration of the environment –Experimentation with novel things/activities –Problem-solving

6. Functions of Play Social development is increased –Play allows us to try out new roles –Practice different social solutions to situations (often by accident) –Allows us to experience levels of competency (modeling)

7. Functions of Play Problem solving –Children work out problems –Create new approaches –Deal with emotional issues in a non- threatening environment

8. Why Do Children Play?

9. Theories of Play Surplus energy –Play serves the purpose of discharging excess energy Cognitive development –Play facilitates cog dev –Helps us consolidate learning taking place in other parts of life –Learning in a relaxed atmosphere

10. Theories of Play Arousal modification –Play relieves boredom –Play reduces uncertainty –Play keeps the body at an optimal state of arousal

11. Theories of Play Practice for adulthood –Play allows us to develop the skills and knowledge needed for adult functioning Contextual (Vygotsky) –Play allows us to reconstruct reality (practice) without influences imposed by the situation, context, or regulations.

12. Gender Differences Do boys play differently than girls?

13. Stages of Play Pre play behaviors- not necessarily “PLAY” –Unoccupied play- random play-like movements. Attention is focused on anything briefly –On-looker play- Child watches other children, may ask questions or interact, but does not join the activity

14. Stages of Play Solitary Play –Child plays alone independently with –different toys than the other children Parallel Play –Child plays independently- next to (or alongside) other children –Child plays with the same toys as the other children –Child does not try to influence or have any part of other children’s play

15. Stages of Play Associative Play –Child plays with other children –Child plays with toys in the same way as other children, or tries to influence them to “play like me” –Shares toys –Talking between children –No organization or common goal

16. Stages of Play Cooperative play –Group Play –Organized toward a common goal –Division of labor Different children have different roles

17. Parten’s Stages of Play Click Here