Stimulation By Play

Stimulation by Play

Rebekah Versluis
Niagara College

EDUC 1133 Section 01

Professor Ruth Lawryk
March 19, 2014

STIMULATION BY PLAY

Stimulation By Play
The most delicate time for any human being is their first few years, when every
part of their body is still developing. Play is a naturally occurring, freely chosen and
non-literal activity in which children are intrinsically motivated by their imagination,
sense of exploration, delight and wonder. Play reflects the unique experience of children
through which they can express their feelings and ideas, and come to understand
themselves, others and the world around them. (Best Start Expert Panel On Early
Learning, 2007).
"Play nourishes every aspect of children's development- physical, social,
emotional, intellectual and creative. The learning in play is integrated, powerful and
largely invisible to the untrained eye." (Hewes, 2006).
Play is how children begin to understand the world around them and make sense
of learning. "The developmental literature is clear; play stimulates physical, social,
emotional and cognitive development in the early years. Children need time, space,
materials and the support of informed parents and thoughtful, skilled early childhood
educators in order to become master players. They need time to play for the sake of
playing." (Hewes, 2006).
Learning by play is a large part of the curriculum in early childhood settings. Play
is considered a very important factor in the development of every child. Children learn to
use their language and thinking skills, they learn to problem-solve, and negotiate in play.
"From day one, children are eager and determined to understand how the world
works. They do this through play, using all the 'tools' they have at their disposal." (Zero
to Three, 2004).

Stimulation By Play

IS IT NECESARRY FOR ALL CHILDREN TO PLAY?

Children are full of natural curiosity, which promotes learning and exploration all
on their own. In an early learning centre, it is important to have structured play, which
creates different and diverse learning experiences. Playing gives them opportunities to
problem-solve, make friends, express themselves, and recognize letters and numbers.
Play provides a supportive environment where children can ask questions, solve
problems, and engage in critical thinking. When children play with other children, they
create social groups, test their ideas, challenge each other's ideas, and build new
understandings. (National Quality Framework for Early Education and Care, 2013, pg
15). Play requires activity from either physical, mental or verbal participation, with
people, ideas or the environment. It self-motivates them, and provides new experiences
for them to create on their own. Play helps to create a brain that has increased flexibility
and improved potential for learning. It helps to shape the structural design of the brain
for the future. (Barblett, 2010).
Children learn a variety of things through play, it allows them to explore, identify,
negotiate, take risks and create a meaning for what they are doing. Children who
engage in quality play experiences are more likely to have well-developed memory
skills, and language development. Play may also help regulate their behaviour, which
leads to enhanced school adjustment and academic learning. (Barblett, 2010).
Play nurtures a child in every way, it teaches them to problem solve, how to
make friends, how to express themselves, how to enjoy the world around them, how to

Stimulation By Play
make sense of the world around them, and how to recognize letters and numbers on
their own time.

HOW DOES PLAY-BASED LEARNING FIT INTO THE IDEA OF

NATURAL PLAY?
"Watch your children play, and you will see the kind of concentration, passion and
creative excitement that artists and scientists bring to their projects." (One to Three,
2004).
Natural play is letting the child be in control of their own creativity with any openended toy. Natural play is not directing the child, and letting what they want to happen,
for example, a feather duster as a horse. Natural play is letting your imagination go wild.
Toy's that do not create limits and let them be free with them are an idea of natural,
open-ended play.
What are the benefits of natural play? Natural play promotes creativity and
pretend play, gives opportunities to be noisy, and engage in physical play. Natural play
creates opportunities for them to improve balance, coordination and physical strength
on rough and uneven surfaces.
Kinds of play: Exploratory/sensory- exploring objects and environments by touching,
tasting, smelling etc
Dramatic play- spending lots of time engaged in imaginative play by themselves; role
playing, playing "house".
Constructive play- Building and constructing, recreating and destroying

Stimulation By Play
Physical play- testing boundaries, running, jumping etc
Socio-dramatic play- pretend play with peers or adults
(Hewes,2006).
Simple open ended materials create a whole other world for a child. Children
begin to use their imagination to act things out, and use their memory and
representation skills to create a scenario, and a script for them to act out.

HOW SHOULD EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS SUPPORT

CHILDREN'S PLAY EXPERIENCES?

"Stacking blocks, and mixing sand and water, encourages logical-mathematical

thinking, scientific reasoning and cognitive problem-solving... the learning that occurs is
a byproduct of play." (Cappon, 2006).
Early Childhood Educators support and facilitate learning through play by
planning the environment to suit the development of the children in the room. They
support this development by supplying materials that improve the development such as
toys, dress-up clothes, books, play equipment and many open ended materials.
Providing the children with materials that create natural play, gives them so many
opportunities to improve. It is also important to have toys that the children are interested
in. (Early Learning and Child Care Branch, 2009) Early Childhood Educators provide
safe classrooms and materials, keeping the child out of harm while they are playing.
They encourage the child to choose what they want, and to act it out as they choose to,
using freedom of creative expression.

Stimulation By Play
Supporting the child in their play exploration consists of creating a learning
environment and caring communities where the children can play collaboratively and
participate together. We need to create different learning environments in both indoor
and outdoor settings. Strategies and documentation also help to see how the child is
developing, and how they are succeeding. We need to participate with them and
provide learning opportunities that challenge and open doors for them. (Best Start
Expert Panel On Early Learning, 2007).
Early Childhood Educators challenge the child, they challenge them to learn
more in ways that are fun. For example, when they are building with the blocks, ask
them what they are building and why they are building it. This helps them to think, and
use cognitive as well as the physical domain. Understanding how the child is developing
is what leads to an appreciation of role play. (Best Start Expert Panel On Early
Learning, 2007).
"On-going support to build and sustain capacity with respect to diversity, equity
and inclusion is essential." (Bernhard, 2006).

CONCLUSION
Play creates many options and opens many doors in a child's life. Their brain's
are not wired to sit at a desk and learn, they need to get up and teach themselves. Play
motivates and self-corrects the children. They learn many different new skills just by
having fun with themselves or with their peers.
"Early brain development sets the foundation for lifelong learning, behaviour and
health." (Mustard, 2006).

Stimulation By Play
The brain develops at an early stage when they have interactions with adults who
challenge the young child. Play provides an opportunity to model acceptance, empathy,
respect, and co-operative problem solving strategies. Play provides the children with
experiences that expand children's capacity to learn, verbally. (Best Start Expert Panel
On Early Learning, 2007).
All programs are now starting to become more play-based learning programs, as
they can see good it is for the development of all children. Play may seem like just fun
to your children, but it is improving every domain of the child.
"What we envision will be a first 'tier' program for early child development, as
important as the elementary and secondary school system and post-secondary
education system."(McCain & Mustard, 1999)

REFERENCES
Hewes, P. J. (2006). Let the children play: Nature's answers to early learning. Retrieved
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Stimulation By Play
(Hewes, 2006)
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(Zero To Three, 2004)
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(Knowles, Ridgers & Sayers, 2012)
Best Start Expert Panel On Early Learning. (2007). Early learning for every child today:
A framework for Ontario early childhood settings.
Early Learning and Child Care Branch. (2009). Creating early learning environments.
Retrieved from Saskatchewan Ministry of Education website:
http://www.education.gov.sk.ca/Default.aspx?DN=4de38060-953f-4922-9b9b1d3bec94400d

(Best Start Expert Panel On Early Learning, 2007)

National Quality Framework for Early Education and Care. (2013). Early years learning
framework. Retrieved from National Quality Framework for Early Education and Care
website: http://www.educahttp://education.gov.au/early-years-learningframeworktion.gov.sk.ca/Default.aspx?DN=4de38060-953f-4922-9b9b-1d3bec94400d