Outdoor play is a huge part of healthy growth, learning, development and wellbeing for the child (Raising Children Network, 2006). Outside play can also mean more mess – and more mess often means more fun! ‘The opportunity to connect with the natural world; first hand experiences of life and growth; endless opportunities for creativity and imagination; improved fitness and physical development – the countless advantages of outdoor play have a real positive influence on children’s lives’ (Willoughby, 2014). All children have the right to play. In this bustle world, where parents and children are rushing from one thing to another, it is good to make time for children to play and enjoy (KidsMatter Early Childhood). My project was about “My garden” …show more content…
Yet, he was also participated in all the activities that we did such as decorating the plastic bottle, watering the plant. We must value all children as an individual, irrespective of their ethnicity, culture, religion, home language, background, ability or gender. We strongly believe that early identification of children with additional needs is important in enabling us to give the child the support that they need and in doing so, work closely with parents and other communities (Westward School, 2015). I included all children in my project so that they all can learn the same things and explore themselves to the max (Refer to Appendix picture 2). However, over the last 40 years it is well documented that children are spending less and less time outside (Ouvry, 2003). The impact of less outdoor play for children can include negative impacts on well being, health and development (Louve, 2008 and Palmer, 2007). So, now, we as the practitioners must provide and support children in outdoor play. Children can learn better in the outdoor environment. In fact, they will have more concentration and focus in their learning. Children were found to have improved focusing skills and less illness in the outdoor nursery. Williams-Siegfredsen (2008) reviews further Scandinavian research over the last decade which provides strong …show more content…
The other class wanted to go and visit the garden but at the same time, my class’s children were using it, so they waited for a while and then only managed to visit the garden. The teacher let a group of children to go in to the garden but due to space problem, I advised her that she can let 2 or 3 child to go in at a time so that it was not pack in the garden. Children and parents were all get to involve in the project as children participated in and parents brought in the materials for success a garden. Families were the vital element in children’s learning so that they will learn more things and explore themselves better. There were some changes in the children while they were doing the project. Children knew to differentiate inside and outside voice. When they were in the classroom, they used inside voice but when they were in the garden, they used their outside voice. This surprised me as I just taught them once and they can remember it well. They also learn a lot of different skills such as communication skills, problem solving skills and decision making skills. All these will help them in their future learning. I felt appreciate and thankful that I had the opportunity to have such good time spent with my children in this project. I will continue to work on this project and let children to have the chance to go out more
Children can greatly benefit from having chances to create connections to the real world in their play space, waiting for the fruit on the fruit trees to ripen or continuously checking to see if their seeds have sprouted all provide both connections to the real world ,as well as expanding developmental skills and knowledge. An ideal learning environment for children does not necessarily need to cost a lot of money to establish and maintain, using items found out the natural environment can often spark creativity and connections with children. Children don't need to always be surrounded by the newest and fanciest plastic toys, natural ideas such as wood blocks can but used instead of lego pieces or rocks for painting on, items such as those can be cheap easily found and yet still provide children with the same if not more developmental skills and learning. From young age children need to be presented with opportunities to take safe risks in order for them to grow and
Early childhood teachers often say that “play is a child’s work” while some parents ask ‘Did my child just play all day?’” (Rice 1). Many people do not realise how important play is and what role it plays in the development of their children. Teachers provide opportunities for children to have spontaneous, unstructured child-initiated play experiences by providing stimulating materials to “enhance and entice children into play” (Rice 2). These materials include loose parts and are open-ended and spark creativity by providing children opportunities to think, plan, and carry out their play (Rice 2). Limited learning may take place if teachers do not make play easier and maximize the benefits (Rice 2). Teacher support is also a necessary component
Let’s pause for a second, let’s take a look what nature has for us. It is beautiful and yet harmless. Kids’ don’t spend the sufficient time to intake the benefits of nature. Louv says, “Playtime, especially unstructured imaginative, exploratory play is increasingly recognized as an essential component of wholesome child development” (48). He is saying to let our kids free and explore on their own. It is what brings fun to their lives. Knowing what comes next it’s pretty boring. Imagination brings excitement and knowledge to the human kind.
Ginsburg, K. R. (2006). "The Species of the World. " The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent–Child Bonds. USA: American Academy of Pediatrics.
Gopink displayed that the most effective way to foster and learn about the physical world is by playing with everyday objects. For instance, the old standbys, cardboard, sand, and mixing bowls. Whereas, dolls costumes, and toy dishes reinforce their pretend play and makes them learn about social world. According to Gopnik, the most important thing is when children were surrounded by relatives and genuine teachers who pay attention to children’s interest and help them to play. He revealed that outdoor play should not be neglected. It is not a place to practice physical exercise. He added “children need opportunities to explore places to investigate, stairs to climb and trees to hide behind,” I learned that children have constant desire to discover and explore new things that existed in nature. I learned through Gopnik’s final message for preschool teachers and as he stated “Preschool from evolutionary point of view, re extended period of immaturity in the human life span.” However, children’s exploration and play broadens their awareness and turns them into adults who are flexible and sophisticated thinkers from Gopnik’s point of
An Article by Dr. Leong and Dr. Bodrova (2016) stated that play is beneficial to children’s learning especially when it reaches a certain degree of complexity. When they engage in play activities most of their early years, they learn to delay gratification and to prioritize their goals and actions. They also learn to consider the perspectives and needs of other people and to represent things significantly to regulate their behavior and actions in a cautious, intentional way.
Risky play is an important part of children’s play and children have shown a natural desire of outdoor risky play in the early years of ages (Brussoni, Olsen, Pike & Sleet, 2012). Risky play refers to play that allows children to feel excited and may lead to physical injury (Sandseter, 2007). In the video Adventurous play-Developing a culture of risky play, the interviewer Neville had discussed risky play with five educators. By consulting from this video, this report will provide rationales which are for creating opportunities for risky play in the child care centres, explain how to achieve the outcomes of the Early Years Learning Framework through planning for risky play. It then attempts to analyse the observational learning in Bandura’s
Friedrich Froebel was a German scholar born in 1782 who did a lot of work on child’s play and how children use nature in their development. Although one of the early theorists (1782–1852), Froebel’s theories are still relevant today. He stressed the importance of play and recognised that the outdoor environment is vital to children’s learning and development. Each child should be allowed the time and space to play and develop through play activities.
The Play Strategy for Scotland is a national initiative that is very much relevant to my topic. The main aim is to create the best place for children to grow up in Scotland. It also aims to achieve making children able to play safely in their environment. The initiative links to my topic as it identifies the importance of play being a life-enhancing daily experience and its contribution to a happy, healthy childhood. The Play Strategy also protects children’s ability to play. (The Scottish Government, 2013)
Article 31 from the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC, 1989) states the right to play is for children to engage in activities freely that are age appropriate. All individuals should endorse equal opportunities for leisure, artistic, cultural and recreational activities. The right of play is important element for education as it is instrumental for achieving health and peak development. (Lester, S., Russell, W. 2010 p. ix) states that rest, leisure and play are combined into a child’s life to be controlled by each individual child not to be coordinated by an adult. Play is children being in control of their own doings; play is allowing children to create, explore, imagine problem solve and experiment in a way in which
Children develop normally when they are exposed to different types of play that allow them to express themselves while using their imaginations and being physically active. According to the Center for Health Education, Training and Nutrition Awareness, “Play is child’s work”; this is true because it is a child’s job to learn and develop in their first few years of life, in order for them to do this, they play. Not only is playing a child’s full time job, the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights listed play as a right of every child. Through their full time job of play, the children develop emotionally, socially, physically, and creatively. Children need to participate in child-led play in order to facilitate healthy development of their minds, body, and creativity.
In my opinion the outdoor area in any setting is often the childrens’ favourite place to be, as all the natural features engage children’s senses and provide opportunities for hands on learning. By letting children play with sticks, climb trees and roll around on the ground children develop physically and mentally. This is an area where there is often greater freedom and scope to investigate their surroundings and whilst there is exploration there is also very good opportunity to develop gross motor skills through physical activity. Such activities also spark their imaginations (Cooper, a
Furthermore, by introducing shared open spaces with other classes, we can bring out the full potential of the children physically, mentally and emotionally. They will have more sensory play when exposed to a wider range of materials outdoors more often. The importance of sensory play is supported by Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development in the sensorimotor stage which states child’s intelligence is developed by the basic motor and sensory explorations of the world around them.
learning. For example, in secondary school, students are required to finish the “Other Learning Experiences” programs. It aims to expand students’ learning contexts instead of simply learning in the classroom. While some school hold more outdoor activities as they agree that outdoor activities is beneficial for students, others reject it and continue to use the traditional classroom teaching. This essay examines both sides of for and against arguments of having more outdoor learning activities.
UMCG, (2012) More free playtime benefits young children’s psychosocial development, Available at: http://www.umcg.nl/EN/corporate/News/Pages/More_free_playtime_benefits_young_childrens_psychosocial_development.aspx, (date accessed: 28/12/13)