ENGAGING PLAY / JANUARY 2024

Tutorial 1

Engaging Play
SUBJECT CODE: ACAD1370

Student Jet Lee_________________________

name :
Student ID / SCSWK2300351_________________________
IC :
Date 30/1/24_________________________
:

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Tutorial 1: (Week 2)

Activity 1: Answer the following question.

Question 1: Defining 'play' using course theories. Highlight how each theory enhances
understanding of children's play.

Play can be defined as engagement with high levels of involvement, engrossment and
intrinsic motivation. Children can voluntarily involve themselves in play without being
imposed with strenuous rules or restrictions. Lev Vygotsky (1978) perceived play as a social
interaction and believed children learn about the self through their interactions with others
therefore playing with others can help to enhance their soft and gross motor skills. Jean
Piaget (1952) saw play as the construction of knowledge within the individual child by
interacting with the object. Knowledge can be built when different ideas from children collab
to form a new and cohesive ideas.

Question 2: Write a reflection on a childhood play memory. Discuss how it aligns with types
of play and criteria for play.

A childhood play memory that I have is the role playing of cops and robbers with my
childhood friends. These types of play are the combination of rough and tumble play and the
socio-dramatic play as it requires the usage of our imaginations to immerse ourselves into the
roles and also the utilisation of our physical capabilities to chase and tackle each other. This
game does meet the criteria for play as it is enjoyable to the player with no extrinsic goals or
motivation, players are all actively engaged, this game is also both spontaneous and
voluntary.

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Question 3: Design an engaging play environment. Include elements addressing culture,

gender, identity, and anti-discriminatory practice.

An engaging play environment is a play that incorporates element that stimulates

creativity and imagination into play spaces encourages exploration and learning. Providing
opportunities for open-ended play allows children to engage in imaginative scenarios where
they can develop problem-solving skills, communication abilities, empathy, and social
interactions. An engaging play environment must also be free prejudice amongst individuals
for their rich in diversity and engage in anti-discriminatory practices. The issues of prejudice
due to cultural, gender and identity differences can be tackled by offering the opportunity for
children with different backgrounds to mix and engage in an all-inclusive play where
everyone is treated equally. Faculty of early childhood should provide a positive role models
to the children to ensure discrimination amongst children to not occur and faculty of early
childhood

Question 4: Develop a play-based activity that incorporates exploration and discovery,

explaining its educational value.

Dress up and role play can help foster the senses of exploration and discovery when
engaged by children. These types of play-based activity can help promotes language
development where children are required to convey their ideas through speaking. Fosters
creativity and imagination as children need these to have meaningful and exciting play with
friends. Social-emotional skills can be developed where children learn to communicate their
needs with their peers and other essential skills like turn-taking and conflict resolution when
playing.

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Activity 2: The question below is based on situation shown.

Reflect on the impact that culture, gender, and identity may have on children's play. In your
response, consider how these factors influence the types of play children engage in, as well as
how adults can support children in play environments that are inclusive and respectful of
diversity.

The negative impact that culture, gender, and identity on children's play such as
prejudice, racial and gender discrimination can have adverse effect on children. Victims of
such negative impacts can suffer from mental and behavioural issues where the children will
be shunned by others where the victim will not be able to participate in play which will lead
to them to having low social-emotional skills and even depressions. These issues can be
solved by offering the opportunity for children with different backgrounds to mix and engage
in an all-inclusive play where everyone is treated equally. Faculty of early childhood should
provide a positive role model to the children to ensure discrimination amongst children to not
occur and faculty of early childhood.

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