The Role of Play in Literacy Learning

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

1. Suggest an appropriate literacy play center for a 1st grade class. What does it teach/reinforce? What materials do you need?

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.

Play is central to the development of children, enabling them to make sense of their world as they learn through exploration and experimentation. Susan Isaacs said ‘play is indeed the child’s work and the means whereby he grows and develops’. (Isaacs,1929) Play can support a child’s social, emotional and behavioural development through the following:

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

Another way that play has changed is through education, play is seen as a way to educate children by letting them explore their surroundings and learn from their experiences, which has been developed into a curriculum for 3 to 7 year olds called the Foundation Phase (Gov.wales, 2014). The idea and concept of learning through play was taken from the Reggio Emilia approach. Less than a decade ago, children didn’t have the opportunity to learn through play and were taught through books or sat at a desk doing worksheet tasks, play was seen as leisure for children and not in a way to learn. Also comparing today’s educational system to earlier eras, school wasn’t seen to be as important for children, they had to go to work to provide for their families. (Bbc.co.uk, 2014) Children today get to gain an array of skills and knowledge that allows them to progress through the learning spectrum and having more freedom within their learning. With this children are

Contrary to the popular belief that play-based curriculum isn’t sufficiently academic, play isn’t just fun, leisure, and games. In fact, there are several different types of play that children engage in, each of which help them grow in a different way. Play is a key factor in a child’s cognitive, social, and physical development, as well as the development of important communication skills. As an instructor, my role is to be a facilitator of play by providing children with appropriate materials and sustaining a safe and ideal environment where children can play comfortably.

Before exploring the benefits of learning through play, it is important to gain an understanding of what play is. It is difficult to define exactly what play is. Play can vary amongst different types of activities, social contexts, and also age groups. Free, imaginative play is vital for normal social, emotional and cognitive development. Play is important for children’s learning as it helps them to become socially adept, managing with stress and developing cognitive skills such as problem solving. Through play children explore social, material and imaginary worlds and their relationship with them. There are many different reasons why children play, sometimes they are discovering or learning new things. Play can be a way of building or strengthening relationships with either other children or adults. Children more often play simply for the fun and enjoyment it offers them. Many theorists have tried to make a concrete definition of what play is.

The Early Years Learning Framework describes play as a “context for learning” in which children make sense of their world (DEEWR, 2009, p.9). Play is essential for learning and development as it provides opportunities for children to express themselves creatively, construct new understandings, and develop relationships (Undiyaundeye, 2013). Play supports the student’s developmental domains such as; social, language, and creativity, cognitive, emotional and physical development. The National Quality Framework acknowledges the educator’s role as facilitator, in which they respond to student’s ideas, play and use intentional teaching to extend and scaffold each student learning (ACECQA, 2013, p. 40). Vygotsky’s socio-cultural theory describes learning as a social activity, in which the child’s social and cognitive understanding is constructed through social interaction (Duchesne et al., 2013; Arthur et al., 2015). He believes that play occurs in a socio-cultural context and provides ‘Zone of Proximal’ development for a student in which they can behave beyond their age and act in ways that are not typical of their daily behavior. The educator at pre-primary structured the classroom to support and encourage interaction, for instance, the home corner, which consisted of multiple dining chairs and a range of resources for dramatic play. The pre-primary teacher took on the role as onlooker and mediator during the children’s play, interrupting their play to manage behavior issues,

There are numerous theories of play and countless theorists, from Freud and Spencer to Piaget and Vygotsky, who have studied play in relation to what it is and what it does for the child. This essay will outline the definition and value of play and the importance of how it can foster the child’s learning in regards to these theorists who studied the effects in great detail. It will discuss the how the environments constructed by educators can impact play and the theories of learning relating to the quote “play and learning are inextricably woven together ...” Ebbeck and Waniganayake, 2010, p. 5).

This essay will focus on vet play, in a kindergarten setting for ages 4-5. This essay will give reasoning on why a play based curriculum is so important for a child’s development, through giving key definition of play and how it relates to play, this essay will talk about the importance of adult roles within a child’s development, the planning cycle within play and this essay will also talk about the importance of inclusivism and differentiation within a play activity. A play-based curriculum is one "that uses the power of play to foster children's development. It is a developing curriculum in which teachers take an active role in corresponding spontaneous play, guided play, directed play and teacher-directed activities" (Van Hoorn, et al 2003, p. 3) Children of all ages and cultures partake in play, whether it be imaginary, with toys, with

Honeyford and Boyd believe that “research in early childhood education demonstrates the vital importance of play to young children’s linguistics, social, emotional, intellectual and physical development.”(p.65). This particular study was about an afterschool program in Canada that focused on using play and creativity to learn literacy. Honeyford and Boyd designed to answer questions “about learning and identity but they also provided students with multiple points of entry, varied levels of support, a range of mentors and mentor texts, options to take more or less risk, and time to reflect-to learn from their process and share their discoveries.”(p.63). the activities were inquiry based and the students were given quests. The students were on a quest to give their own

Alice Sterling Honig, author of an article “Play: Ten Power Boosts for Children’s Early Learning”, states that “children gain powerful knowledge and useful social skills through play” (p.126). Honig, who believes that play is essential for young children’s development, points out ten ways in which children can learn through play activity.

Play is essential and one of the primary approaches to learning for young students as it contributes to all domains of development and academic achievement. Vygotsky was a strong theorist and advocator for play-based learning as it enhances language and literacy development. The learning centers in my classroom are set up for the children to work individually or in small groups to explore literacy, mathematics, science, art, or dramatic play. I find that my students are motivated and eager to learn when they have the ability to choose what direction they would like to take. The unstructured play encourages children to discover areas of interest and engage fully in the content to formulate knowledge using all their senses.