Session 4

Session 4: Providing for Play

 

Inquiry 4: The Child Care Provider’s Role in Children’s Play

 

Child care providers who understand the need for children to play, who know what play is, and who know how to participate in play are able to provide a quality program.

 

When child care providers facilitate play, they guide children by providing support, empowerment, and enhancement. The goal of a child care provider who plans, observes, and facilitates enriched play activities is to enhance a child’s self-esteem and sense of achievement.

 

Child care providers supervise play, but they are also actively involved in children’s play. This participation lets children know that their play is important and, as a result, the children’s play and learning are often extended.

 

Child care providers can involve themselves in children’s play in many different ways:

• playing beside the children

• extending play activities by adding materials

• participating with the children

• asking questions to stimulate conversations and learning

• noticing a child playing with a certain toy or participating in a certain activity

• noticing and responding to a child’s question or idea

• intervening in difficult play activities or misunderstandings

Child care providers should do the following:

• become involved in play

• avoid interrupting play

• support and extend play

• observe activities to identify individual learning

• keep the activities safe and offer ideas to encourage safe play

• redirect play when play becomes inappropriate

• encourage children to problem solve when misunderstandings occur

CCS3130 Learn EveryWare ©2011 Alberta Education