This week I want to talk about Play.
Sometimes adults think of play as something children can do after they get their learning done but actually children learn through play. Play might look like it's all fun and games (and it definitely is when done correctly) but it's also how children of all ages learn to problem solve, communicate, negotiate, gain confidence in their abilities, learn language, explore their environments, develop cognitive skills, learn about their feelings and emotions and so much more. Don't believe me check out what the Center of the Developing Child at Harvard University has to say about Brain-Building Through Play
With all the research behind the significance of play in children of all ages I'm not surprised that the United Nations declared an International Day of Play!
Playing with Loose Parts
Some of my favorite materials to use as an early childhood educator are loose part. They really allow the child's creativity to come alive and they're Free! Here are two great resources to get you started on curating your loose parts materials and implementing them into your daily activities Loose Parts Play: A Guide for Early Childhood Educators and The Five Phases of Loose Parts Play
DIY your Summer Fun
Now that summer is here and boy is it going to be a hot one (at least here in upstate NY) what better way to stay cool than cranking up the AC and making some fun Homemade Play-dough, you can add all different colors and scents! And if the weather breaks and you can get the littles outside try making homemade bubble solution and using an expandable ball to make lots of bubbles. I used 10 cups of water, an entire 15.5 oz bottle of Dawn dish soap and 12 teaspoons of granulated sugar to make enough solution to submerge the expandable ball. Make sure your child is dressed in clothes that can get messy and a great way to keep soap out of their eyes is to have them wear swimming goggles. What's your favorite way to play in the summer, leave a comment below!
As always thanks for reading!
I really appreciated this post because it reminds me of a time when I was younger when I was around a bunch of "loose parts" during a time where I was getting help with special needs for speech (I have an underbite that I think didn't help with this among other issues during that time). One of my favorite things was these little bears that came in numerous colors and creating different personalities with them. I also really enjoyed wooden blocks because you could do anything. As I got older, this turned into me turning the couch and it's cushions into obstacle courses (not safe, but it was fun).
ReplyDeleteWhile tactile learning is not proven to be a type of learning style, it can be a helpful tool in engaging children. This hasn't been something I've been able to think about as deeply when it comes to my own son. I think when I have the funds that I will work towards getting him more toys that allow for imagination rather than ones that push for him to learn abc's, 123's etc. (at least not getting him more of these).
Something I also want to look into eventually is minimalism which I am currently testing out as it appears that a lot of toys can be overwhelming... ESPECIALLY during clean up, lol!
Thank you for this post!
Hello Taylin, thank you so much for this awesome comment! You are absolutely correct, having too many toys and books out at once can make children feel overwhelmed. One of the things I constantly did in my daycare was rotate toys. This helped the classroom not be so chaotic. Obstacle courses are the best especially in rainy days when you can get your littles outside. I'm a Kinesthetic learner, so it always helps me to learn if I can feel, see, hear, and practice a skill. Kids are 100 % tactile learners. Letting kids explore toys without giving them instructions is one of the best ways to foster imagination.
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