How Children How Children Learn/Play?Learn/Play?

How Children How Children Learn/Play?Learn/Play?

What is Play?• Play is a natural and important

activity for children.• Children learn best by doing and

experimenting through their senses.

Play in a Child’s World

• Researchers recognize that children’s play has a central place in a child’s world.

• Social adaptation• Expression of primary needs

Play and Intellectual

Development

• Play allows for incidental learning.• Children learn cause and effect and

through trial and error.• Imitation by pretending and dramatic

play.• Nurtures reasoning, imagination,

creativity, and curiosity.

Play and Social/Emotional

Development

• Teaches self entertainment.• Work through conflict.• Cooperation: take turns, share• Potential healing power.• Teaches role in society.• Provides practice for language

skills.

Play andPhysical Development

• Allows for movement of large and small muscles.

• Focus on the process of play.

Incidental Learning

• The child learns in an unplanned way by observing and understanding the results of accidental actions.– It happens in many ways: through

observation, repetition, social interaction, and problem solving

Imitative Learning

• The child learns skills and behavior by watching and imitating others.

Trial and Error Learning

• The child tries several solutions to a problem before finding out what works.

Types of Play• Parallel Play

– Play near other children with similar materials.

• Cooperative Play– Children orient toward a common goal.

• Associate Play– Engage in separate activities, but interact by

exchanging toys.

Art & Art & ChildrenChildrenArt & Art &

ChildrenChildren

Art & Children

• Children express themselves through art.

• Do not correct or criticize their work.– Praise

Importance of Art

• Promotes physical, social, emotional, and cognitive growth.– How?

• Physical - movements• Social – share art materials• Emotional – creative activity to express emotions• Cognitive – exploring and experimenting

3 Stages of Art Skill Development

• Scribbles• Basic Forms• First Drawings

Scribbles

• Zigzags, whirls, and circles.• No connection of movements.

– How could you help kids to be aware of the movements?

Basic Forms

• Ovals, rectangles, and circles.• More control over movements.

First Drawings

• Produce first real drawings.• Mimic their own view of the world.• Create symbols of objects and

events.• Often large drawings.