Play Based Learning

1. Play Based Learning Created & Presented by: Katrina Baker Early Years Team Teaching Learning & Standards

2. What is Play? Play is the medium by which children learn about their environment through: * exploration * manipulation * trial & error * improvisation * acting out

3. Types of Play:

4. Stages of Play In the early years, children go through the stages of : * Passive on looker * Solitary player - plays by her/himself * Parallel play - plays beside another player * Associative play - play in a group with similar resources, but no shared goals or roles * Cooperative play - team play with specific goals and roles with shared input

5. Characteristics of Play: Children’s play is: * spontaneous * self-directed * self-regulated * based on individual learning styles * self absorbing

6. Play Based Learning is: * child-centred – the needs; interests; abilities of the students; learning styles are reflected in the program; setting up of the environment, with a wide variety of resources for selection and choice making, enabling each to learn in their own way achieving the outcomes, as well as, their own unique milestones * student/peer initiated – they take the lead and choose what/how/with what will they play * teacher guided/supported/scaffolded: - hands on - hands above - hands off

7. Play Based Learning is important because it: * is developmentally appropriate * is inclusive of all stages of development * is supported by evidence based practice and brain research that inform the need for, and the nature of learning opportunities for children to develop attitudes, skills and understandings