Let Kids Learn Through Play Analysis

Early childhood is a time of curiosity, a time for play, and a time of rapid development. Every child is unique and deserving of an early childhood education that facilitates academic, social, and developmental growth through a variety of enjoyable experiences. Differentiated instruction adapts content, products and processes to meet the diverse learning needs and preferences of students (Thousand, Villa, & Nevin, 2007). Friedrich Froebel, the creator of Kindergarten, believed that children grow and learn as they play (Bruno, 2009). Play-based instruction not only enables young learners to have fun, but it also encourages interactive and cooperative learning, passion for discovery, and a foundation for later learning experiences

Did you know that play expands a child’s learning and development? Once parents understand that play is crucial in their child’s life then they can begin to help their son or daughter be the best he or she can be. According to Lev Vygotsky “play shapes how children make sense of their worlds, how they learn thinking skills, and how they acquire language.” After spending time at the Bombeck Center I learned that children play in many diverse ways, thus learning numerous new things within each center in which they interact. Lev Vygotsky along with Jean Piaget researched the need for guided social interaction as well as the necessity for spontaneous, self-discovered learning. The Bombeck Center focuses on a play-based learning curriculum to ensure a child’s ability to access social interactions and self-discoveries at the tip of their fingers.

“Early roots of play as a best practice for early learning was documented by Plato, a Greek philosopher, who insisted that play is considered a natural activity of childhood.”(Ingrid Crowther, 2011, Pg. 2) Early Childhood Education is a term that refers to educational programs that are devoted to children from birth to the age of eight. “Children of this age learn by exploring and investigating; therefore, their environment should support and encourage this process.”(Rebecca Isbell and Betty Exelby, 2001, Pg. 11) Early childhood environments should be attractive and exciting. These environments should allow children to work and play using proper resources, materials, and tools.

“Play is developmentally appropriate for primary-age children and can provide them with opportunities that enrich the learning experience” (Copple & Bredekamp 2009). Early childhood education holds two main focuses; a child-based focus and a family-based focus. Early childhood education has positive outcomes on the child through their learning experiences, and their growth and development. Based on the family, the results of early education happen through the communication that the family has with the educators and by the encouragement they get from within themselves, and also from the educators.

Finely Edwards, “do schools begin too early?”, education next, Summer 2012 web. April 20, 2016

The terms “play”, “learn” and “teach” are commonly used in the early childhood sector. This essay attempts to define and interconnect these terms to produce a holistic understanding of how play can be used as a medium to help children learn.

Early years play a significant role in the life of any human being. Recently, there has been a lot of discussions about whether kids should spend their early years in school or not. In this essay, the reasons for students spending time in school until the age of eighteen will be discussed.

Play-based learning is described as a “context for learning through which children organise and make sense of their social worlds, as they actively engage with people, objects and representations” (EYLF 2009, p. 46). Headstart Early Learning Centre has a strong emphasis on play-based learning as they believe it is the best vehicle for a child’s learning as it provides the most appropriate stimulus for their brain development.

When thinking about school, most people think of elementary through high school then on to college. What happens before elementary school? Is there any learning and cognitive development happening? Children begin learning at a very young age, whether we teach them, they reflect our actions, or simply they begin to learn on their own. What we teach kids is vital to how well they learn in the future. Observing over the past couple of days, I’ve learned that children from 0-5 show just as much learning capability as a child in high school. Learning is more critical for 0-5 year olds because this foundation shapes the child’s happiness, growth as a person, and how they act in their family or community.

Although it has been 15 years since I played with building blocks and enjoyed taking a nap in a kindergarten classroom, playing with other kids and using games to learn fundamental skills like counting and how to write the alphabet are some of the most vivid memories from my fairly young childhood. Even going back and visiting the elementary school I attended, I don’t see the “formal education” method that David Kohn mentions in his NYTimes article, “Let Kids Learn Through Play”.

In the case of play, there has being a long time, been misunderstood as the opposite of work or something not serious. Actually, using play to mentor children does not mean the curriculum is not professional and beneficial. In contrast, it means cherishing children and respecting the nature of learning at their age. In fact, play is essential for children’s development and for their learning life skills. Pramling & Fleer (2009) suggests that there is no standard definition for play, it is more like an attitude of mind, play could be viewed in its broadest sense as describing almost all the activities that young children engage in. In this essay, I briefly describe the value of play and how play relates to children’s learning and

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).

The first eight years of a child’s education is where he learns the basics of everything. This is where a child learns values, how to read and analyze material, how to think critically when solving math problems, use different strategies, take timed tests, write basic five paragraph essays, and so on. Without these first eight years of education which carry a child into his or adolescent phase, a child will not be able to reach his full mental development. As a child grows, his intellect and ability to reason and make educated decisions should reach higher levels.

A desire to learn is not the output from going to school at an early age, but by influences from home life. Children pick up on even the subtlest, minute mannerisms the adults around them carry. I consider myself lucky knowing this fact, for I was a constant witness of my mom reading, writing in a journal, and motivating my brothers to do their schoolwork. Whether my mom was aware of the work she was doing or not, she certainly made a difference on how I approached school. For most, school is considered a job, an annoying everyday task. But the way she taught was graceful and fluid, leaving it pure nature to follow her words. Learning at home was not about being better than anyone else, except the you from yesterday. Simply put, her way of teaching could be mirrored by the famous Einstein quote, “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” This tactic helped me tremendously in not comparing myself to others work. The public school system

On the other hand, there are some that believe early education does not improve student achievement or growth. This is because research has shown that it benefits educationally disadvantaged children while the same effect is not seen in