Session 3
1. Session 3
1.6. Inquiry 3
Session 3: Developing Through Play
Inquiry 3: The Value of Play and Child Development
Play experiences promote development in all areas of development.
The diagram illustrates how each area of development is supported and enhanced by true play experiences. It is important that child care providers understand that true play experiences are necessary to children’s growth during the early years.
The Role of the Caregiver in Supporting Children’s Play
Children are naturally motivated to play, but child care providers have a crucial role in supporting and enhancing play.
It is important that child care providers do the following:
- Have a positive attitude toward play.
- Understand that play is learning.
- Understand that children make exciting discoveries from play.
- Model play to children without taking over their play.
- Model enjoyment of play.
Child care providers create good environments for children’s play by doing the following:
- making sure there is a variety of play materials
- making toys and materials easily accessible on low shelves
- changing the material periodically to keep it interesting (e.g., changing materials based on the seasons)
- keeping enough consistency so that children can explore materials in different ways
Child care providers support and encourage children’s play by doing the following:
- setting up play areas that have enough space for the children to play
- making sure children have enough time to play; children need long periods of time to play because it takes them time to organize and begin play
- finding out the special interests of the children
- asking children what they want to play with
- showing interest
- adding materials to a particular play session or making a suggestion
Important: Whether children are banging pot lids together or pretending to be a nurse, they are learning about themselves and the world they live in.
Twelve Easy Strategies to Make a Child Care Facility More Developmentally Appropriate
