Learn More!
If you would like to learn more about the many ways that all areas of early childhood development are enhanced via play, I have provided several links to some informative articles on the importance of play below:
Borden, M. E. (1997). What are children learning when they play?. SMART START The Parents' Guide to Preschool Education. Published by Facts on File, Inc
http://users.stargate.net/~cokids/Borden.html
This extremely practical article breaks down the many different ways we can observe play in young children, both structured and unstructured. Marian Borden gives a brief description of each type of play, followed by exactly what is learned and what type(s) of development can be observed in that play. This article is an excellent quick-reference and easy to understand.
Brewer, J.A., Kieff, J. (1996/97). Fostering mutual respect for play at home and school. Childhood Education, Winter 1996/97, 92-96.
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Fostering+mutual+respect+for+play+at+home+and+school.-a019137953
This article verifies the importance of play both at home and at school. After acknowledging parent concern about the validity of play at school, Brewer and Kieff go on to describe the various differences between play as it occurs at home and at school. The article concludes with a discussion of how to foster an appreciation for the value of school play among parents and ways that adults, both parents and teachers, can help young children articulate what they are learning through play.
Quisenberry, N. (2002). Play: essential for all children. (A Position Paper of the Association for Childhood Education International). Childhood Education.
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/00094056.2002.10522763
This paper explains in detail the position that the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) takes on the role of play in children's lives. The paper defines exactly what play is, describes it in the context of all major areas of childhood development, and includes guiding principles and practices that can be used both at home and at school to encourage healthy play.
Riley, J. G., Jones, R. B. (2010). Acknowledging learning through play in the primary grades. Childhood Education, Spring 2010, 146-149.
https://blackboard.jmu.edu/@@/25682C8F35CE85E86EC52E58F5F08D5B/courses/1/ECED609_1_SP13/content/_3069830_1/Pence-%20article.pdf
This short, yet information dense article describes the criteria of play and also provides a description of the different types of learning that can occur through play in the early childhood years. The article advocates play in the early elementary classroom and provides information about how to develop an environment that encourages learning through play.
Borden, M. E. (1997). What are children learning when they play?. SMART START The Parents' Guide to Preschool Education. Published by Facts on File, Inc
http://users.stargate.net/~cokids/Borden.html
This extremely practical article breaks down the many different ways we can observe play in young children, both structured and unstructured. Marian Borden gives a brief description of each type of play, followed by exactly what is learned and what type(s) of development can be observed in that play. This article is an excellent quick-reference and easy to understand.
Brewer, J.A., Kieff, J. (1996/97). Fostering mutual respect for play at home and school. Childhood Education, Winter 1996/97, 92-96.
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Fostering+mutual+respect+for+play+at+home+and+school.-a019137953
This article verifies the importance of play both at home and at school. After acknowledging parent concern about the validity of play at school, Brewer and Kieff go on to describe the various differences between play as it occurs at home and at school. The article concludes with a discussion of how to foster an appreciation for the value of school play among parents and ways that adults, both parents and teachers, can help young children articulate what they are learning through play.
Quisenberry, N. (2002). Play: essential for all children. (A Position Paper of the Association for Childhood Education International). Childhood Education.
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/00094056.2002.10522763
This paper explains in detail the position that the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) takes on the role of play in children's lives. The paper defines exactly what play is, describes it in the context of all major areas of childhood development, and includes guiding principles and practices that can be used both at home and at school to encourage healthy play.
Riley, J. G., Jones, R. B. (2010). Acknowledging learning through play in the primary grades. Childhood Education, Spring 2010, 146-149.
https://blackboard.jmu.edu/@@/25682C8F35CE85E86EC52E58F5F08D5B/courses/1/ECED609_1_SP13/content/_3069830_1/Pence-%20article.pdf
This short, yet information dense article describes the criteria of play and also provides a description of the different types of learning that can occur through play in the early childhood years. The article advocates play in the early elementary classroom and provides information about how to develop an environment that encourages learning through play.