Play is important for development and learning.

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Play is a freely chosen and personally directed behaviour that actively engages children. It is very important that early years practitioners have a good grasp on this subject as the developmental usefulness of play for a child is extremely significant. For children, play provides them with the necessary skills to develop: socially, emotionally, physically and creatively. Bruce (2004) explores the fact that play is a valuable tool for children to discover their environment and to learn about why things happen using all of their senses both indoors and outdoors. The hypothesis that will be discussed throughout this essay is how play is important in early development and learning and how it serves both the child’s individual needs and the future society in which they will live in. This will be discussed and explored through reference to historical play pioneers, legislation, policy and guidance and theoretical knowledge on the social, cultural and intellectual perspectives on play. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Statutory Framework (2008), created under the Childcare Act (2006), gives all practitioners across England guidance on a play based approach to learning. Therefore, assuming children do learn by play, practitioners and professionals must deliver planned, purposeful play which has a balance between adult-led and child-initiated activities, as stated by QCA (2007). There should be a wide variety of different play methods that allows them to represent their own learning experiences. These opportunities provided for children in early years settings, need to enhance and develop all of their skills and abilities. This includes: communication with peers and other adults, exploring different environments that include takin... ... middle of paper ... ...ole within learning for children. Play pioneers such as Friedrich Frobel, theorists such as Piaget, current legislation and guidance, and the support from parents and practitioners worldwide, understand, illustrate and provide evidence as to why play has such a critical role within every child’s early development and learning. It allows children learn through something they enjoy, possibly not even realising that they are learning themselves. Play has a key role within benefitting children’s growth and development; physically, emotionally, socially, creatively and intellectually. If it wasn’t for direct experience and learning through play, children would not develop and learn at the same rate as they do today as they have not learnt the language yet, so it provides them with a form of communication and learning which is designed specifically for their age group.

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