Welcome
Thank-you for visiting. I'm sure you are interested in learning about how it's possible for children to play all day, and still continue with learning the important fundamental skills they will need to succeed in their lives.
This website has been created to inform parents and the wider community of the vast benefit play has on a child's learning and the importance of play in Early Childhood classrooms. There are examples throughout the site that have been provided to demonstrate how play can be used in class or at home to further develop some of the skills that children learn in Early Childhood centres. The 5 learning experiences we will explore are:
Provided throughout the site are brief links to the Early Years Learning Framework, the Australian National Curriculum and the Western Australian Curriculum and Assessment Outline. These have been included to provide links between the child's play and the intended learning the child is undertaking.
Please feel free to explore through the site, and ask questions using the 'contact me' links. I hope you enjoy navigating through the ideas provided and become familiar with the role that play has in providing the best learning experiences for young children.
This website has been created to inform parents and the wider community of the vast benefit play has on a child's learning and the importance of play in Early Childhood classrooms. There are examples throughout the site that have been provided to demonstrate how play can be used in class or at home to further develop some of the skills that children learn in Early Childhood centres. The 5 learning experiences we will explore are:
- 1:1 correspondence and its importance in numeracy;
- Rhyme is a foundation for reading and writing;
- Classifying and sorting as a foundation for mathematical reasoning;
- Celebrating cultural diversity is an important foundation for life; and
- Respecting the natural environment starts in the early years.
Provided throughout the site are brief links to the Early Years Learning Framework, the Australian National Curriculum and the Western Australian Curriculum and Assessment Outline. These have been included to provide links between the child's play and the intended learning the child is undertaking.
Please feel free to explore through the site, and ask questions using the 'contact me' links. I hope you enjoy navigating through the ideas provided and become familiar with the role that play has in providing the best learning experiences for young children.
What is Play-Based Learning? Play is something in which people of all ages from diverse cultures engage with, although the purpose for and the type of play may be different across ages and cultures (Kennedy & Barblett, 2010). Play-based learning is exactly that- Learning that is based around play. Play is such an important part of a child's life, and there is no reason we should interrupt a child's play so they can learn. Instead we can harness and use their desires to play to foster learning environments they love and want to be involved in. We can provide children with activities they get excited about, which then provides a stepping stone into a desire of wanting to learn more.
The Early Years Learning Framework describes play as "a context for learning through which children organise and make sense of their social worlds, as they engage actively with people, objects and representations." 'It is possible for learning to happen all day, every day. It is my job as a teacher to make the most of every experience possible' Please click on the buttons below to be taken to the relevant curriculum areas that are used in schools and early learning centres.
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Types of Play
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References
Brown, S. (2010). Play: How it shapes the brain, opens the imagination and invigorates the soul. New York: Penguin.
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR). (2009). Belonging, Being and Becoming The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia. Canberra: DEEWR.
Devlin, R. Valuing Play. The Early Years Learning Framework in Schools. Retrieved from http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/nqsplp/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/EC_1201_Valuing-play.pdf. Date accessed: 18th September 2015.
Kennedy, A., & Barblett, L. (2010). Learning and Teaching Through Play: Supporting the Early Years Learning Framework. Canberra: Early Childhood Australia.
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR). (2009). Belonging, Being and Becoming The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia. Canberra: DEEWR.
Devlin, R. Valuing Play. The Early Years Learning Framework in Schools. Retrieved from http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/nqsplp/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/EC_1201_Valuing-play.pdf. Date accessed: 18th September 2015.
Kennedy, A., & Barblett, L. (2010). Learning and Teaching Through Play: Supporting the Early Years Learning Framework. Canberra: Early Childhood Australia.