Analysing Childrens play

Foundation Degree Level 5 Play and Recreation

Analysing Play Lecturer: Laura Griffiths

Lesson Aim  The

aim of today's session is to discuss the importance of analysing children's play.

Lesson Objective  By

the end of today’s session you should be able to….

 Identify  Discuss

the different types of play

how and why practitioners need to analyse children’s play.

Task: Types of play  Play

can be categorised under many headings.

 Using

your academic research skills, in small groups identify, describe and analyse as many types of play you can.

 Collate

group

your information and share with the

How do children learn?  “Children

learn best when they are given the appropriate responsibility, allowed to experiment, make errors, decisions, and choices, and are respected as autonomous learners”. (Bruce 2011 p. 220)

How do children play?  In

small groups create a spider diagram discussing how children play.

 How

can all of your suggestions be categorised?

 Adult

directed play  Adult initiated play  Child initiated play

Adult Directed Play: 

Adult led Play



This is the type of play where an adult will plan, organise and show the children what they need to do.



The adult tells the children how to play and what to do. An example of this could be a cooking activity.

Adult Directed Play:  What

do you think the advantages of adult directed play are?

 Allows

for higher risk taking

 Enables  Helps

children to learn new skills

Language development

Adult Directed Play:  What

do you think the disadvantages of adult directed play are?

 Learning

is not always effective

 Learning

may be limited

Adult Directed Play: 

Adult initiated play



This is where adults put out toys and or resources carefully with intention to develop children in a certain way.



This type of play is carefully designed with the intention of a child developing a particular skill that the adult thinks is important for them.

Adult Directed Play: 

Adult initiated play



What are the potential benefits of adult initiated play?



Encourages development of new concepts



Helps the learning process

Adult Directed Play: 

Adult initiated play



What are the potential disadvantages of adult initiated play?



Children may not grasp the skills expected.

Child Initiated Play:  Child

initiated play if often referred to as ‘free play’

 This

is because children are free to choose the resources and toys and choose how to play with them.

 Child

initiated play varies according to the age of the child.

Child Initiated Play:  What

are the advantages of child initiated play?



Children's emotional development is particularly supported as the children are given the opportunity to make their own decisions.



It supports their creativity.



Improves their social skills.

Child Initiated Play:  What

are the disadvantages of child initiated play?



Limitation of varied skills



Learning may become limited

The Balance:  There

needs to be a balance between adult directed play and child initiated play…..

 Why

do you think this?

How can we analyse children’s play?

Observation

What is the importance of observing children?

Observation  The

main purpose of observing children is to gain an understanding of a child’s learning. This can then be used to inform our planning.

 Observation

allows adults to identify any changes in a child’s behaviour and learning needs.

Observation 

Practitioners have a key role in the process of children learning though play HOWEVER for this to be successful a practitioner must have knowledge of……



Where the child is in their development Are there any learning concerns? What areas of the play provisions is the child attracted to? Are they using the resources correctly? Do they engage with peers? Do they ask questions? Are they showing an interest in leaning?

 

   

Observation  Observation  For

is not just looking

observation to be successful you need to…

 Listen

 Reflect

 Take

notes

References:  Bruce,

T. (2001) Learning Through Play: Babies Toddlers and the Foundation Years. London: Hodder and Stoughton.

 Bruce,

T. (2011) Early Childhood Education. 4th edn. Oxon: Hodder Education.