Why is Play Important for development?

"Play isn't a luxury, it's a fundamental part of a child's psychological and physical development.”

(The Children's Society) 

 



'Play' in the classroom

Its believed that allowing children to 'play' and interact with one another allows the personal development of social and phyical elements within their life.

 

Social Development of a child

Play will increase a childs social awareness and emotional maturity bringing success in life; not just school. They will develop the ability to interact positively with both peers and adults.

 
 Play enables children to socially develop the following:

• Instigate verbal and non-verbal communicating skills
• Respond and understand emotions of others
• Experience the opinions of others, and deal with conflict and deligation
• Experiment with role reversal

Play can also contribute to a childs emotional development, allowing them to express and cope with feelings; allowing them to understand and respond to the feelings of others. Children can also learn to cope with their feelings through role play, this allows them to act out feelings like being angry, happy, or worried in a situation that they can control, allowing them to think out loud expressing both pleasant and unpleasant feelings.  

How can play physically develop a child?!

Play helps to develop a childs' body awareness and fine and gross motor development whilst they energetically move around.

Fine motor skills can be improved through writing, creative play activities, forming shapes and scribbles. Whereas gross motor skills can be developed through physical activities like skipping, hopping and generally running around. As the child practices these skills though play, the stronger these skills will become.

Using their bodies during play also enables them to feel phyically confident, secure, and self-assured  (Isenberg & Quisenberry, 2002).

Additionally, Active play will increase or maintain the energy a child has already sustained, and also improved joint flexibility, and muscular strength.

The benefits play -
Allowing children to make up their own games, characters, situations and dialogues without adult intervention are massive!

'This is because imagination is an integral part of your child's education and helps determine children’s success in all areas of life.
Imaginative and independent play helps children:

• Learn to solve problems;
• Practice coping with difficult or new or strange circumstances;
• Express themselves;
• Develop relationship skills;
• Learn real life skills.'
  
  - http://www.education.com/reference/article/importance-play--social-emotional/

Reflective Learning




Reflective Learning consists of reviewing and questioning our own individual learning experiences, and can be done through analysing our work; using thinking skills to evaluate information. It 's all about being in control of our own development; allowing us to engage with our learning and be able to develop our knowledge. Reflective learning leads us to consider the purpose behind our studies, and provokes us to challenge what we thought we already knew. In order to be successful with our active learning, we should follow the process of thinking over what we've done, and begin to question it. There are six main questions to consider when refecting on your work. These include, What is our information for? Why do we need it?, What are the problems and/or solutions with it? What is our reaction towards it? and What can we do to achieve this?

 

created with Bubbl.us

I find refective learning very beneficial, as I am able to establish connections and relationships within my work, which ultimately triggers other aspects and areas of knowledge when questioned. It also allows me to evaluate my progress, and allows me to plan my future work and assess what I need to do to improve.

My 'Reflective Learning' Mind Map

Celebrity wheels..




T-Pains Gucci Interior

How boring are the cars we see on the roads every day?!  We don’t see the types of cars that Celebrities drive; unless we’re at the right point at the right time. I’ve been looking at the types of cars celebrities drive, and mentally compared them to the little old fiat I drove here in this morning. There’s T-pain rocking up in a smart little Fiat 500 with unique Gucci interior and there’s me, with my unique rattle noise whilst pulling off! Even Jennifer Lopez has bagged herself a little shiny new one! - Who would have thought it?! Celebrities driving Fiats!? Show me some Bentleys! And of course, you wouldn’t have to look no further than Simon Cowell to find one! A black Bentley Azure convertible. Doesn't get better than that! or does it?!

If i was asked, 'If you could chose any car to own, in the world, what would it be!?' The answer would shoot straight out.. 'A white Range Rover!' Even the Prince has one! It may not be white, but I certainly wouldn't turn it away!

'A Royal Rover For A Royal Baby'    

Here's a little snippit, i found on youtube;
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rmp0PrgiiA&feature=player_embedded

Studying@Swansea

So, I'm Lauren. Im 21 years old, and have finally made it to University in Swansea! Up until now, I've been working within the Secondary Education system as a Teaching Assistant within the classrooms; helping children with their workload, and understanding. I've worked with children with physical, mental and behavioural issues effecting their school life. I thouroughly enjoyed it! and felt I had the potential to develop my own skills, to offer more to the childrens' education. Therefore, I decided, (a bit later on from my friends, may I add!) that it was time for me to go to university, as an attempt to obtain all the skills I need to progress further. Fingers crossed, it's the right decision- we shall see!