Child Studies

1. Child Studies Child Development and Play

2. Developmental Stages of play • Important to match play activities with developmental level • Infants – simple items that stimulate senses and encourage exploration • Toddlers – physical activities – mobile and energetic • Pre-schoolers – develop new abilities – make things they are proud of • Early primary – longer attention spans – more sustained games - adult skills

3. Types of Play • Spontaneous play and structured play • Preschool – more structured play – both still important. • Six types of play: creative; discovery or exploratory; imaginative or pretend; manipulative; physical; social. • Can be involved in more than one type of play at a time

4. Creative play • Expresses ideas or emotions to make something original • Helps children discover properties of materials as well as fine motor development • Encourages experimentation and exploration • Usually satisfying and hence increases self esteem • End product not important – should always be praised for their efforts.

5. Discovery play • Allows children to find out about objects – size; shape; colour; texture; uses • Objects can break – learns to take care • Uses all senses – sight, taste, smell, touch, hearing • May involve climbing a tree, digging in sand, pulling a toy apart or putting a hand in the honey jar.

6. Imaginative play • Imagines to be someone else or somewhere else • Often those around must imagine too • May talk to toys or objects, make up manes using characters. • Act out using words • Helps them understand behaviour and roles eg. Shopping, families, doctors • Develop communication and social skills • Allows them to act out fears and fantasies

7. Manipulative play • Involves working with the hands in a skilful way • Coordinates hands, eyes and brain • Learns shapes, to sort and think logically • Develops fine and gross motor skills • Sense of satisfaction from achievement

8. Physical play • Body work or exercise • Running, chasings, crawling, jumping, balancing, ball games, riding… • Learn muscle control and coordination • Use energy • Develop fitness

9. Social play • Playing together is social play • Learn sharing, communication, acceptable behaviour, belonging. • Learn consequences of anti-social behaviour • Observe others • Learn about relationships

10. 5 stages of social play • Solitary play – 0-18mths. Play alone with adult nearby; explore environment; adult initiated play – clap hands; aware of other children but interaction is limited / accidental. • Parallel Play – 18-30 mths. Play alongside. Awareness but no real attempt to play or communicate together. Play intently, alone.

11. 5 stages of play – cont’d • Associative play – 2 ½ + - copying other children • Deliberate and extended interaction between children • Extended time but limited communication • Beginning to watch older children

12. Cooperative Play – 3 yrs + most children able to play actively together Decide together what to do and play Share materials and ideas Communication established Relationship evident 5 stages of play (cont’d)

13. 5 stages of play (cont’d) • Competitive play – 6+ children able to play together in games with rules • Understand that rules games have winners • Understand not everyone can be winners