I put my children in a lot of fun activities! Soccer, piano, art, etc, so I'm letting me kids learn through playing right?
It's fantastic that your child is learning so many things, but having fun learning and playing games in class is not play-based learning. In order for your child to really learn through play, they should have the freedom to choose what they want to do, explore in their own ways and learn in those ways. Team sports and lessons "require[s] children to pass examinations to proceed to the next level" (Shiakou and Belsky) and cannot be classified as play activities.
It's fantastic that your child is learning so many things, but having fun learning and playing games in class is not play-based learning. In order for your child to really learn through play, they should have the freedom to choose what they want to do, explore in their own ways and learn in those ways. Team sports and lessons "require[s] children to pass examinations to proceed to the next level" (Shiakou and Belsky) and cannot be classified as play activities.
Play just a waste of time? How can we expect children to learn by fooling around?
Although play can seem like it's not beneficial to a child's development, if structured properly by parents and teachers, free play "should emphasis children's all-around development and endeavor to support them mentally and physically so they may enjoy their childhood" (Einarsdottir). On top of enjoying their childhood, children also develop their "self-image, social skills, and creativity" (Einarsdottir) through imaginative play, and although social skills may be taught explicitly by an adult, self-image and creativity are also important things that are only meaningful if a child develops it on their own.
Although play can seem like it's not beneficial to a child's development, if structured properly by parents and teachers, free play "should emphasis children's all-around development and endeavor to support them mentally and physically so they may enjoy their childhood" (Einarsdottir). On top of enjoying their childhood, children also develop their "self-image, social skills, and creativity" (Einarsdottir) through imaginative play, and although social skills may be taught explicitly by an adult, self-image and creativity are also important things that are only meaningful if a child develops it on their own.
I know that it is important for children to have fun, but I can't see how play contributes to my child's development?
Play encourages not only the social development of your child, but the cognitive development as well. Two well-known theorists, Piaget and Vygotsky argue that play is crucial to the development, and helps lead to success of children in and out of a classroom setting.
Piaget views play as contributing to cognitive development, especially in the child’s early years. Piaget distinguished three developmental levels of play: sensorimotor, symbolic, and games with rules, all of which are associated with the child’s age. See how these stages relate to your child as you read through! The sensorimotor stage typically is around the child’s first two years of life, and it normally consists of “repeating various previously learned behaviors, apparently to provide pleasure and not to attain a particular goal” (Garwood, 1982, pg. 3). The next stage, symbolic play, increases as the child increases their ability to use mental symbols to represent experience. During this time you will see your child start to engage in make-believe play. This requires the child to “not only to begin to take the role of another … but also to recall past experience for present use” (Garwood, 1982, pg. 3). Therefore, in order for your child to engage in play at this stage they are required to engage in interactions about the sequence of events in their play and revolving any conflicts which may occur within discrepancies in their play themes. Lastly, Piaget’s third level of play concerns games with rules, which encourage the child to use concrete operational abilities, as well as cooperative and competitive activities. All three stages are extremely important in your child’s cognitive development, having knowledge of these characteristics of the stages of play is important when providing different strategies to encourage meaningful and engaged play in a classroom or home setting.
Vygotsky (1967) views play as promoting the social development of children. Vygotsky sees play as “an aspect of the preschool child’s living in which he or she advances beyond the ordinary accomplishments of the age period and anticipates development in thinking that will only become characteristic later on” (Almy, Monighan, Scales & Hoorn, 1984, pg. 3), this concept was termed “zone of proximal development”. In other words, by encouraging your child to play with more capable peers, they will benefit from collaborating and problem solving, resulting in more success in reaching their goals.
Teachers have recognized these characteristics for many years, which is why play is so heavily encouraged, especially during early childhood. With an appropriate balance between play and work or instruction, justified on both theory and research, play can be a great benefit to children’s cognitive and social development!
I buy all of the newest toys for my kids but they would still rather sit and play video games.
Despite the newest fads, a well-resourced and well-planned environment can help children to see the opportunities that are available for play. Some example of organizing may be creating different areas of interest and well defined spaced for your child to work as well as creating a aesthetically pleasing storage and display area for the child’s play things. Some resources to provide may be supplying open-ended materials for the child to explore or making sure there are resources such as books or writing tools to help promote the child’s academic development and fine motor skills. Look through the resources page to find some more non-virtual ways that environment can promote play in your children's lives!
Play encourages not only the social development of your child, but the cognitive development as well. Two well-known theorists, Piaget and Vygotsky argue that play is crucial to the development, and helps lead to success of children in and out of a classroom setting.
Piaget views play as contributing to cognitive development, especially in the child’s early years. Piaget distinguished three developmental levels of play: sensorimotor, symbolic, and games with rules, all of which are associated with the child’s age. See how these stages relate to your child as you read through! The sensorimotor stage typically is around the child’s first two years of life, and it normally consists of “repeating various previously learned behaviors, apparently to provide pleasure and not to attain a particular goal” (Garwood, 1982, pg. 3). The next stage, symbolic play, increases as the child increases their ability to use mental symbols to represent experience. During this time you will see your child start to engage in make-believe play. This requires the child to “not only to begin to take the role of another … but also to recall past experience for present use” (Garwood, 1982, pg. 3). Therefore, in order for your child to engage in play at this stage they are required to engage in interactions about the sequence of events in their play and revolving any conflicts which may occur within discrepancies in their play themes. Lastly, Piaget’s third level of play concerns games with rules, which encourage the child to use concrete operational abilities, as well as cooperative and competitive activities. All three stages are extremely important in your child’s cognitive development, having knowledge of these characteristics of the stages of play is important when providing different strategies to encourage meaningful and engaged play in a classroom or home setting.
Vygotsky (1967) views play as promoting the social development of children. Vygotsky sees play as “an aspect of the preschool child’s living in which he or she advances beyond the ordinary accomplishments of the age period and anticipates development in thinking that will only become characteristic later on” (Almy, Monighan, Scales & Hoorn, 1984, pg. 3), this concept was termed “zone of proximal development”. In other words, by encouraging your child to play with more capable peers, they will benefit from collaborating and problem solving, resulting in more success in reaching their goals.
Teachers have recognized these characteristics for many years, which is why play is so heavily encouraged, especially during early childhood. With an appropriate balance between play and work or instruction, justified on both theory and research, play can be a great benefit to children’s cognitive and social development!
I buy all of the newest toys for my kids but they would still rather sit and play video games.
Despite the newest fads, a well-resourced and well-planned environment can help children to see the opportunities that are available for play. Some example of organizing may be creating different areas of interest and well defined spaced for your child to work as well as creating a aesthetically pleasing storage and display area for the child’s play things. Some resources to provide may be supplying open-ended materials for the child to explore or making sure there are resources such as books or writing tools to help promote the child’s academic development and fine motor skills. Look through the resources page to find some more non-virtual ways that environment can promote play in your children's lives!
"What we do to and for young children is not "natural" but rather a cultural invention that was created over a period of time" ----Spodeck, B.
"Almost all Creativity involves purposeful play"---Maslow, A.
"Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity."---Jamison K. R.
"Almost all Creativity involves purposeful play"---Maslow, A.
"Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity."---Jamison K. R.