Play Supports Language and Literacy Development In The Foundation Stage

2862 Words6 Pages

'It is important to establish a definition of play and the importance

of play in the development of the child. I will give an overview of

the various stages of the different types of play. I shall be using

theories as examples and discuss various educational studies. Moving

on from there, I shall focus on how social dramatic play supports a

child?s language and literacy development and how the different types

of activities could support this area of learning. The importance of

the adult?s role during the child?s play will be discussed. In

conclusion I will discuss about the importance of play, language and

literacy.

The importance of play should always be remembered when devising

programmes for children. Through imaginative play, children practice

and come to terms with aspects of daily life. Children can also be

encouraged to express themselves and learn about emotions through

play. Play is a vital part of the growth and development process

between the stages of being a totally dependent newborn individual and

becoming an independent adult. Play brings together the ideas,

feelings, relationships and physical life of the child. It supports

children to operate what they know and how to comprehend things about

the world and people they meet. When children play they can rearrange

their lives, for example, children grow physically as they rearrange

(gross motor) the large elements (table, chairs, cradle) of the

interest area and as they manipulate (fine motor) contents (food

boxes, dolls, clothes, and hats) of the interest area. They practice

their real life situations, reflect on the past and get their

thoughts, feelings, relati...

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...hip.

Levittown, PA: Accelerated Development

Macintyre, C. (2001) Enhancing Learning Through Play, David Fulton

Publishers, London

Moyles, R, J (1992) Just Playing, The Role & Status of Play in Early

Childhood Education, Open University Press

Palmer, A (2001) Fifty Modern Thinkers on Education, From Piaget to

the present Routledge, London.

Piaget, J. (1962). Play, dreams, and imitation in childhood. New York:

Rutledge.

QCA & DfEE (2000), Curriculum guidance for the Foundation stage, QCA,

London

Vygotsky. L.S (1978) Mind in society, The development of psychological

processes. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University press

Websites

Jones, E. & Reynolds, G. (1992). The plays the thing: Teachers roles

in children’s play. New York: Teachers College press accessed 26.02.05

http://web.ask.com

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