Hyndman On Play

The Playwork Principles (2006) state “All children and young people need to play. The impulse to play is innate”.

Play is the way children learn and is a word that is used to describe the different activities behaviours that children participate in, this would concur with “Vygotsky’s (1978) social constructivist theory that suggests that play promotes both mental and social development for children” (cited in Goulding, 2016, p16). Early childhood educators such as Froebel and Vygotsky have always promoted the importance of the outdoor learning environment. According to Vygotsky (1978), children learn through interacting with the environment and through social interaction with others. Social constructivist theory, believes play is important for the growth of a child’s cognitive emotional and social development and

Modern-day, stresses and nerves – and, it ought to be said, an open-air world which truly is less youngster amicable than ever before – has prompted a hazard opposed a culture that discovers expression in oppressive well-being and security arrangements which neglect to measure the advantages of a given movement against the dangers included. Suppliers of kids' play areas, in a similar manner as numerous open administrations, are in dread in case of even minor scratches. So they progressively blunder in favour of alert, putting intensely in effect retaining surfaces and gear that thoroughly meets well-being gauges yet regularly needs genuine play value.Free and unstructured play in the outside lifts critical thinking abilities, centre and self-restraint. Socially, it enhances participation, adaptability, and mindfulness. Enthusiastic advantages incorporate diminished animosity and expanded happiness.Children will be more quick-witted, better ready to coexist with others, more beneficial and more joyful when they have normal open doors for nothing and unstructured play in the out-of-entryways. In a current study a third of kids believed that there was a leaf that can soothe a nettle sting; as per the review, more than seventy-percent of the youngsters that participated in the research have never climbed a tree. Abominable! Ask anybody more than forty to relate to you their most loved recollections of adolescence play, and few will be inside. Less still will include a grown-up.

The relationship between play and learning seems obvious to many child professionals and parents, and yet there are still lack of understanding surrounding the importance of children's play. Some people believe that children need to "work" not play, and that playing serves no useful purpose in a learning and development environment. This is surprising considering that play, with its high levels of motivation and potential enjoyment empowers children (as well as people

&. (2006). The bioecological model of human development. In R. &. Lerner (Ed.), Handbook of child psychology. (Vol. 1, pp. 793-828).

As a practitioner, we need to acknowledge how important play and leisure activities can be one of the cruel factor of a child’s development; Throughout my experience I have witnessed play to be extremely important to children’s and young people’s wellbeing and development.

The Early Years Learning Framework relates the importance of play to notions of belonging, being and becoming. It states that children make sense of their social worlds through playing with others (DEEWR, 2009). Article 13 of the UN Convention reads that every child has the right to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child (Connor, 2010). It is important to note that play has multiple approaches and that children’s play varies greatly according to culture, interests,

One of the main, and most controversial topics discussed in a child’s development is, nature vs. nurture. Nature pertains to genetic influences that a child has inherited from their parents, such as traits, abilities, and capacities. For instance, what color eyes the child may have, how athletic they may be, and even their brain development. Whereas nurture, refers to the environment the child is raised in and how this shapes their behaviors. Such factors can include, the family’s socio-economic status, schooling, parental discipline, as well as whether the child is provided with enough resources. When it comes to nature or nurture having a stronger influence then the other, the answer is both, nature and nurture, influence the outcome of the child. This idea that both nature and nurture, play a part in how the child will develop, is known as the nature-nurture continuum.

Psychologists have been debating over whether or not the primary source of development of a child is from nature (genes) or by nurture (environment). I believe that development is influenced by nurture. There are many factors that contribute to the reasons why nurture affects the overall development of a child. One of the factors includes, the culture or type of society that the child is in. A person grows up influenced by other people around them and the social norms that society follows. For example, everyone walks on the right side of a sidewalk or hallway. This is a social norm that is formed in our society. A child will follow this norm without being told to do so. Societal principles have impacted our cognitive development. The sociocultural

However to back this argument up the likes of the professional theorist Jean Piaget expressed his view in that play is extremely important and vital and that it is children 's work. Moving on to something equally important which is access to a rich and stimulating environment, this will help the children 's learning by having an environment which is stimulating as they will have time to learn and play. For example this could mean for a child who lives in a rural area such as a block of flats this is going to have an impact on their play and learning as they are not having the same opportunity as other children who have a lot of outside area which enables them to run freely these children having this opportunity are also having an impact but a more positive impact as they are getting the opportunity to explore and investigate and enhance their fine and gross motor skills. By having a large area to play it enables the children to socialize and learn while playing. However it is also important that as a practitioner we think of children who have and need ALN - Additional Learning Needs. This leads me on to my next key point which is Equal entitlement, this links to UNCRC article 31 all children are entitled to experience play. Within the setting they should make sure that all children are able to

Play is inevitable when it comes to children. Given the right environment and objects (of any sort), children will find a way to play. Jarvis, et al state that educators must offer inspiring, playful environments which include hands-on activities and interesting resources. This will empower children to educate themselves (2009). Along the same line, Wood and Attfield consider that an environment inclusive of varied resources will provide room for growth in their learning and will support the child’s “creativity, inventiveness and originally” (2005, p.231).

Childhood development encompasses the cognitive, physical, social, moral and emotional changes from birth until the end of adolescence (White, Hayes & Livesey, 2013). Throughout childhood, environment and genetics promote or discourage growth and development. This essay will analyse the cognitive, physical, social, moral and emotional domains in relativity to my own development from the prenatal stage until adolescence. Psychological and environmental theories are used to develop the understanding and connection between each domain and stage of development. Lastly, this essay will address the controversial nature verses nurture debate and its relevance to my childhood development.

This paper will discuss how a child’s development is influenced by environmental and cultural influences as well as parenting styles and education. This will be argued through four topics including

Two different ideas, one historic debate: is an individual’s development completely based upon their biological makeup? Or, is development based upon the individual’s environmental influences? These questions define nature vs. nurture. Historically, nature vs. nurture created a controversy. Researchers and scientists focused on either nature or nurture in development. However, the solid line drawn between nature and nurture has recently been erased. It is now known that, “both nature and nurture are essential to all aspects of behavior” and it is important to explore how nature and nurture, “influence each other to fashion the behaviors we see in children and eventually in adults” (Bukatko & Daehler, 2012, p.7).

Vygotsky acknowledged that biological factors play a role in development. Children bring certain characteristics and the disposition to the situation they encounter, and their responses to those situations vary accordingly. Furthermore, children behaviour, which are influenced by in part of inherited traits, affect the particular experiences that they have (Vygotsky, 1997). Vygotsky primary focus was on the role of nurture,