Play? What is that? Your kids play??
Play is a 4 letter word but not a bad word to use around
kids!
When parents visit a play
way school their first impression is, “wow so many toys and play materials,
very nice” this is then followed by a question, “ this is all fine but what do
you teach? What will my child learn?”
And this is where
most schools and teachers are unable to help parents understand that
Play=learning and how learning happens during play because play is the work of
childhood. So schools know that kids learn through play and toys, then why do
parents think that play and toys=no learning? It is time to bridge this gap of
understanding how children learn through play so that parents and teachers can
nurture children through play based learning and growth especially in the early
years, the most significant years.
Fredrick Froebel, the
father of kindergarten (kinder=child, garten=garden) invented games that he
called ‘gifts’, there were 13 gifts in the Froebelian method that teachers were
trained to gift children with related songs. Each gift taught kids important
concepts of counting, math, concepts, science and math, all through playing
with the gifts. This was learning
through play.
Maria Montessori
designed didactic equipment that involved children’s brain, muscles and senses.
Children would learn language, counting, science, geography, all through
puzzles, games and activities. This
was learning through play.
Lev Vygotsky believed
that play helps nurture social and language skills in young children and he
stressed on the importance of play in early childhood environments. This was learning through play
Brain research has
made significant discoveries about how the brain is stimulated through play. The
hand and the brain need each other- Neurologically, "a hand is always in
search of a brain and a brain is in search of a hand”- Wilson. Use of the hands
to manipulate three-dimensional objects is an essential part of brain development.
According to latest brain research when kids play with blocks, push around
toys, throw balls, this is constantly fertilizing neural growth.
And the play
personality of your child changes as per the age and development of your child.
Observe babies in the first nine months as they manipulate toys, they reach
for, hold, release, suck with the toy. The focus is on manipulation as their
finger muscles are developing and their brain uses all the five senses to
learn. This is learning through play.
From 9 to 18 months
children will be involved in function games with their toys, tossing, pressing,
throwing etc. they are curious to know what each toy can do. This is learning through play.
18 months onwards
when the brain is now geared for imagination, children indulge in imaginative play;
they give a functional twist at a symbolic level to the toy or object. So a
long block is used as a mobile phone or banana. This is the beginning of symbolic
play that is the foundation of learning to read and write. When a child can
visualize an object as having another function then the child will be able to
see the word ‘c-a-t’ and visualize a cat. This
is learning through play.
So if kids don’t
play, they don’t learn and that is why play is called the work of childhood. So
watch your kids play today and observe these schema in their play. What is a
schema? A schema is a repeated action in
children.
1.
Trajectory - fascinated by the
way they themselves or objects move through the air.
2.
Rotation- Children who just
adore circles and anything that goes round
3.
Positioning- children who are
always placing things in some kind of order
4.
Transporting- children who are
always on the move, moving items and often carrying a bag
5.
Enveloping- children who like
to cover themselves or objects as well as hiding
6.
Enclosure- children who love to
surround or enclose either themselves or other objects
7.
Connecting- connectors simply
enjoy attaching themselves or objects to other things
8.
Transforming- these children spend
hours mixing
Yes, children thrive
on play because their brains learn best with play. So even though play is a
4-letter word it is one of the best words that adults should speak around
children. So tell your child to play today…and play along…it keeps you young!
46 comments:
An article which will change the perspective of many readers towards play. Play is an opening door of learning, which needs to be given importance and rather it can be a ready guide for solving many behavioural as well educational problems.
A must read article!
Well explained article, how play helps kids to learn, retain and enjoy the learning process. Thank you ma'am for sharing the article.
Wonderful article Ma'am about play and its importance in learning and the seasoning part for the concept of play is that it is supported by many philosophers and educationist and same has been established in scientific research as well ...Thank you Ma'am for sharing it.
what is play ? You have mentioned beautifully how child learns through play and develops various skill and intelligence.You have stated in how to Teach so kids can learn which is very appealing that kids have everything to gain when you gift them play ,but depriving children of play will have negative effects like depression,aggression,and hostility after all if you dont get break, you will break down too!
after all play is called the work of a child hood.
Play is the highest form of research - Albert Einstein
The understanding of importance of play needs to be reinitiated in the parents, I believe this blog will help not only the educators but also the parents understand the significance of PLAY and help the children learn and explore by simply playing.
Riddhi Tolia (Teacher-PJK Plus IB)
Play indeed is learning!!!
even we as parents cant learn without playing so how could we expect the same with small kids. Kids have curious minds and their brain develops while they are on verge of exploring New events, new situation new permutations, new combinations and many more which even we cant imagine also. Easy and understandable language through play also helps the child to learn even the most difficult things. Thanks mam for sharing and guiding parents to help child learn in a better way.
Important experiential learning experience having the right tools and knowing how to use them, precision, perfection, planning and last but not the least aesthetics!
Yes ma'am Play is very important in every one's life .Thank you for sharing it's time for annual sports meet.
A wonderful article about play that will change the perspective of adults towards play. Children have curious minds and are eager to learn new things. Its becomes very easy for child to learn many different and difficult concepts through play.
Wonderful article - "What is Play". Its very important to create an awareness and understanding in Parents and Teachers that how important is Play especially in the early years.
Wonderful article - "What is Play". Its very important to create an awareness and understanding in Parents and Teachers that how important is Play especially in the early years.
Wonderful article - "What is Play". Its very important to create an awareness and understanding in Parents and Teachers that how important is Play especially in the early years.
Wonderful article - "What is Play". Its very important to create an awareness and understanding in Parents and Teachers that how important is Play especially in the early years.
The most important role that play can have is to help children to be active, make choices and practice actions to mastery. so it becomes important that we should provide children with ample of opportunities to play. a must read article for all.
The most important role that play can have is to help children to be active, make choices and practice actions to mastery. so it becomes important that we should provide children with ample of opportunities to play. a must read article for all.
Yes play is important for children's as practical done in our center. students who were not able to write properly we have asked them to play in sand and later on started with letter formatting in sand tub which they enjoyed and started with writing in notebook with good handwriting.
Thank you ma'am on behalf of PJK Plus Vile Parle team for sharing the article. Play definitely helps kids to learn, they learn a lot through play also develops various skills and intelligence through it.
According to Jean Piaget, the kids we deal with fall into the Pre-operational stage where they must have make-believe or role play as well hands on activity with toys that they can change in shape like blocks and modelling clay to give a spatial representation to their ideas. Parents need to re-think when choosing battery operated toys where children are mere spectators. Hence the role of parents and teachers is of utmost importance in determining the child's usage of computers and technology. Just as parents are particular about the school they choose for their child, they should be equally if not more diligent when choosing toys for their child.
The philosophers like Eric Erickson also postulated that play serves as an "ego function" independent of child's need to resolve conflict. Play helps them to cope up with demands of reality, they learn to master emotions and frustrations through repetition and reconstruction of painful and frightening events. Also Sigmund Freud stresses that play is the projection of the child's inner or emotional life, play acts to satisfy drives, resolve inner conflicts, cope with anxiety-producing situations. With such an important role to play in child's life "PLAY" has to be the most effective learning tool. Thank you ma'am for sharing with us such an important article on PLAY, and in today's environment where play is leaving the lives of children we are proud to say that in Jumbo Kids we have kept the essence of play for our children.
Thank you for the article - to bring to our notice how play is important in childs learning. Play develops senses of child , i feel we must share and give the child best opportunities and we must not stop once we are aware of what is developing child brain.
I Ms. Tanvi Mody teacher of PJK Plus Vile Parle would like to thank you ma'am for sharing the blog.Indeed play is a work of child and a child will learn more by play way method.Learning through play will help them to grow physically, emotionally and socially.
Very true ma'am and thank you for sharing this blog with us.Play is the universal language of children, it is through play that children understand each other and they learn so much from play like sharing, taking turns etc. Play is therefore very important for all the children.
I Ms. Kalpita teacher of PJK plus VileParle thank you ma'am for sharing such a wonderful blog about importance of play in children and how play can help every child for their over all development.
I Ms. Janice Gomes teacher with Pjk Plus Vile Parle thank you Ma'am for sharing such a wonderful blog with us. Play is very essential for kids for their overall development. Play helps kids to enhance all their skills.
Play is very important for every child as it help them to make choices,keep them active & involved.through play way method it becomes very easy for a child to understand different concept introduced to them.Once again thank you ma'am,for this wonderful article.This article will help us in understanding the importance of play.
Thank you Ma'am for sharing such an informative article with us. Play helps children in their holistic development. Play is a very important part of every child's life. (Float teacher- PJK Plus Vile Parle)
A great article about Play which will change the view of Adults towards play.Play helps the child to be more active,to make choice and to learn the difficult concepts in an easy and interesting manner.
Thank you ma'am for sharing the article as Play shapes the Brain,Opens the Imagination,and Invigorates the Soul.
A great article about Play. An adult should understand that Play is a way of learning. It is not luxury but a necessity for children to develop their brains and a highest form of research.
Thank you ma'am for sharing an article. Play is very simple word and only four letter word but it plays a very important role in the child's life.
When Children are asked what they think is important in their lives, palying and their dear friends are always on the top of their list.Play keeps them physically active and gives them freedom to choose.play increases their social competence and emotional maturity.So lets give our kids the gift of Play and achieve happy and healthy children and successful adults in future.
Thank you Ma'am for sharing a wonderful article once again.How a simple 4 letter word "Play" nurture child in its early year which are most significant years.
All work and no play makes our tinytots dull like Jack,why not understand the importance of play in the early years of our kids. It is rightly said Play is the work of Childhood by the author and it is hightime we understand the same and motivate children to play.
Wonderful article Ma'am.Play helps in spatial understanding.It helps to extend attention span,persistence and sense of mastery.Play also sharpens child cognitive and language skils.
...Very rightly said. The four letter word PLAY plays significant role in the early years of the child. This article is definitely going to create a deep understanding among the parents and the educators to develop behavioural and educational skills even further in a better way in their children.
Philosophers like Erik Erikson postulated that play serves as on "ego function"independent of the child's need resolve conflict.Play is a process through which children learn to not only resolve conflict but also helps them cope with the demands of reality, master their emotions and frustrations. The blog highlights the need for the parent to give a serious thought as to to kind of toys they need to buy for their kids.
The essence of childhood is to have endless opportunity for play. A child is happiest when engrossed in play and play can happen in different forms. This awareness has yet to come in teachers and parents, but this blog is a guidance for all who are confused in learning in a play way method.
Play is an important part of young child's day.Play provides an opportunity to develop child's personality like physical,mental,emotional and social.As mentioned in the article it is very important for parents to choose a play school where the learning is through play.
Yes ma'am .play is the work of children.they can achieve all round development.
P- Pleasure of participation
L – Love for toys
A – Assist and accompany
Y – Yippee for togetherness!!!!
Play is four letter word which is always associated with word Toy. As important is to understand what play is played, more important is the toys used to play as it plays a vital role in the brain development, enjoyment and growth of child. Toy need not be purchased it can be material in house. If it is chosen with care and caution then play becomes replica of all books in early days.
It becomes important that we should provide children with ample of opportunities to play.It is a wonderful reminder to parents and teachers that PLAY should be an important part of every childs daily routine as it helps the child grow physically, mentally, emotionally and develops various skills in child helping an overall development.
Why only children even every adult to indulge in a sport or play in intervals to destress and refreash.
An article will change the prespective of many readers towards play.Madam you have stated in how to teach so kids can learn which is really appealing that kids have everything to gain when you gift them for play.
Hi,
Nice to read the information here. The content of this post is very useful and informative.
Puzzles Games for kids | Attention & Focus Games For Kids.
Thanx!
Really thanks for sharing this useful post ! This post is very informative . Keep sharing .
Early Learning Centre at West Harbour
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