Foundation Degree

Level 5

Play and Recreation

Analysing Play

Lecturer: Laura Griffiths

Lesson Aim The aim of today's session is to discuss

the importance of analysing children's play.

Lesson Objective By the end of today’s session you

should be able to….

Identify the different types of play

Discuss how and why practitioners need to analyse children’s play.

Task: Types of play

Play can be categorised under many headings.

Using your academic research skills, in small groups identify, describe and analyse as many types of play you can.

Collate your information and share with the group

How do children learn?

“Children learn best when they are given the appropriate responsibility, allowed to experiment, make errors, decisions, and choices, and are respected as autonomous learners”.

(Bruce 2011 p.

220)

How do children play?

In small groups create a spider diagram discussing how children play.

How can all of your suggestions be categorised?

Adult directed play Adult initiated play Child initiated play

Adult Directed Play:

Adult led Play

This is the type of play where an adult will plan, organise and show the children what they need to do.

The adult tells the children how to play and what to do. An example of this could be a cooking activity.

Adult Directed Play:

What do you think the advantages of adult directed play are?

Allows for higher risk taking

Enables children to learn new skills

Helps Language development

Adult Directed Play:

What do you think the disadvantages of adult directed play are?

Learning is not always effective

Learning may be limited

Adult Directed Play:

Adult initiated play

This is where adults put out toys and or resources carefully with intention to develop children in a certain way.

This type of play is carefully designed with the intention of a child developing a particular skill that the adult thinks is important for them.

Adult Directed Play: Adult initiated play

What are the potential benefits of adult initiated play?

Encourages development of new concepts

Helps the learning process

Adult Directed Play: Adult initiated play

What are the potential disadvantages of adult initiated play?

Children may not grasp the skills expected.

Child Initiated Play:

Child initiated play if often referred to as ‘free play’

This is because children are free to choose the resources and toys and choose how to play with them.

Child initiated play varies according to the age of the child.

Child Initiated Play: What are the advantages of child

initiated play?

Children's emotional development is particularly supported as the children are given the opportunity to make their own decisions.

It supports their creativity.

Improves their social skills.

Child Initiated Play: What are the disadvantages of child

initiated play?

Limitation of varied skills

Learning may become limited

The Balance:

There needs to be a balance between adult directed play and child initiated play…..

Why do you think this?

How can we analyse children’s

play?

Observation

What is the importance of observing

children?

The main purpose of observing children is to gain an understanding of a child’s learning. This can then be used to inform our planning.

Observation allows adults to identify any changes in a child’s behaviour and learning needs.

Observation

Practitioners have a key role in the process of children learning though play HOWEVER for this to be successful a practitioner must have knowledge of……

Where the child is in their development Are there any learning concerns? What areas of the play provisions is the child

attracted to? Are they using the resources correctly? Do they engage with peers? Do they ask questions? Are they showing an interest in leaning?

Observation

Observation

Observation is not just looking

For observation to be successful you need to…

Listen Take notes

Reflect

References:

Bruce, T. (2001) Learning Through Play: Babies Toddlers and the Foundation Years. London: Hodder and Stoughton.

Bruce, T. (2011) Early Childhood Education. 4th edn. Oxon: Hodder Education.