Analysis Of Jean Piaget Theory Of Child Development

As playworkers we look to support the children to be able to satisfy their innatate drive to play within our sessions. Biologically children are born with a natural desire to play therefore will play whenever given the opportunity. It is essential for brain development and to learn personal, emotional and social skills. Children are naturally driven to play and just like animals, where lion cubs play fight to test their strength, baby monkeys are inquisitive, enjoy exploring their surroundings and are very playful. Without these traits they would not learn the skills they need to survive. It is the same with children, the more experiences they gain through play, the more life skills they will acquire.

Psychologically play is therapeutic;

During this stage, children begin to use language as a way of communication and their memory and imagination develop. They also engage in role play and in symbols which allows flexibility and planning in their problem solving skills. During this stage, children think that all people view the world as they see. They begin to remember past events and even imagine future events.

Concrete operational is the next stage of Jean Piaget theory of child development, this occurs between seven and eleven years. The stage is marked by conservation where a child understands that things still maintains their attributes even if they change their essential appearance. Children begin to demonstrate their intellectual development by using logic and manipulation of symbols which relates to concrete objects. Their egocentric nature of thinking becomes less and their awareness of external events

That is, children and young people determine and control the content and intent of their play, by following their own instincts, ideas and interests, in their own way for their own reasons.’
Play to be freely chosen means that children themselves choose when, how and what to play. As such it is not part of a set programme and does not have any steps that need to be completed. Personally directed means children themselves decide the rules and roles they take within their play. Intrinsically motivated means that play is undertaken for its own sake, and not performed for any reward, certificate or status.

Free play is when a child is able to choose what activity they would like to do, how they want to do it, when to stop and start something else. Free play does not have any external goals that are set by the adults and there isn’t a curriculum in which to follow. Although practitioners usually provide the space and resources for free play and might be involved, the children take the lean and the adult responds to cues from the children. The setting provide a set period of time when the children are able to access whatever resources they wish, including the outdoors, and they are able to develop their play and learning in this time, in their own