The Article ' Learning Through Play : Portraits, Photoshop And Visual Literacy Practices `` Written By Michelle A

Explain the role of play in literacy learning and examine its position in relation to society, the National Curriculum, and cultural issues. In what ways should early playful learning encounters be built upon in the context of schooling?

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.

Children’s creativity must be extended by the provision of support for their curiosity, exploration and play. They must be provided with opportunities to explore and share their thoughts, ideas and feelings, for example, through a variety of art, music, movement, dance, imaginative and role-play activities, mathematics, and design and technology.

“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.

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.

The center actively reflects the diversity that makes communities rich and complex, open to diversity and continuous improvement, it values the importance of play-based programs. All of our high-quality programs are based on current research and are planned by our experienced and qualified early childhood staff. The play-based programs provide a wide range of active and meaningful experiences that incorporate choice for children while enabling them to experience many of the educational elements that are important at school. These include developing understandings about:

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”.

This essay will outline the theoretical rationale for play in the development of young children. Boushel, Fawcett and Selwyn (2000:57) state, ‘Play is not easily defined...’ Play means different things to different people. Rubin, Fein and Vandenberg (1983) {cited in Hughes, 2010} suggest play should be intrinsically motivated, freely chosen, pleasurable, non literal and actively engaging. Play gives children freedom of choice, it allows them to lead their own learning, follow their own learning intentions and express themselves freely. There are many reasons that lead us to believe play is crucial for child

This document examines the current research as well as the views from theorists such as Vygotsky who believe that play supports children in all areas of development (CMEC, 2012). When children are playing they are learning and discovering a great deal of information about their world. In the document it provides information about the scientific evidence supporting learning through play and the benefits that it has on brain development (CMEC, 2012). It has been proven that children will develop better social, emotional and cognitive skills when they are playing (CMEC, 2012). Through play children are able to make sense of their world and acquire and practice skills that they can use for their entire lives. In the document that the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada released it emphasizes the need for children to play and to be actively engaged in their environment (CMEC, 2012). This documents states that early childhood educators should plan and create play- based learning experiences for children (CMEC, 2012). I think it is important that early childhood educators recognize the importance in play based learning and provide children with experiences that encourage them to challenge and expand their own thinking and

Education has dramatically changed over the years. Gone are the days of sand tables, dress up, and finger painting in kindergarten. Now, educators have started to transition from playful learning to more of a structural type of learning. These changes are due to the pressures of the No Child Left Behind Act and Common Core curriculum that has been enforced. Even though standardize testing doesn’t start until third grade, kindergarten teachers are held accountable if children aren’t prepared beforehand. Kindergarten has since turned to more structural work such as, workbooks and textbooks. While, this may seem to benefit math and reading skills, children aren’t learning the basic skills of development. A report by Jill Bowden, a postdoctoral fellow at the university of Pennsylvania, explains how developmental psychologist have shown that, for young children, play is learning and helps children to learn how interact with others.(33) Playful learning allows children to develop in areas such as imagination, language

In this journal article, information is given about a study in which an English teacher used visual arts projects in lieu of a traditional assessment at the end of a literature circle unit. This study was conducted on twenty-one willing 11th grade English students from a public school. According to the article, the students “were given a choice among visual arts assessments, including painting, drawing, sculpture, and photography, to demonstrate their understanding of concepts in the novels they read and discussed throughout the unit” (Holdren, 2012, p. 694). The students were given a teacher created rubric to help direct them in their efforts of completing the project. The researcher witnessed several obstacles for the students as they worked on their visual arts assessments, but according to the findings, “a lack in talent, a lack of

Every child is different and they are gifted in one way or another. Every child learns differently because each child has different experiences. The creative arts are a powerful learning tool. They engage children’s senses in open-ended play and support the development of cognitive, social-emotional and multisensory skills. They activate the spatial domain, stimulate the senses and improve well-being. They are a creative playground for the growing mind. Young children need to use the power of the arts to express their ideas and knowledge and to respond to their experiences.

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).

Play is a part of our lives! There are playgrounds everywhere: in parks, fast-food restaurants, malls, schools and homes. Playing with peers, toys, blocks, music, dance, sociodramatic play and coloring are important for young children’s development progress. Effective early childhood educators help and develop young children’s innate capacity for learning. Especially teaching young children, fun activity helps them easily learn language. Teachers should encourage conversation between children. Through practices, preschoolers have more opportunities to speak. Learning while playing, preschoolers easily adapt to new environments and make successful transitions to kindergarten. Once their language skills are developed, they are ready to read and write.