| What do children learn through play? |
| If you think your child isn't learning from his play, just watch for this when he plays. You may be surprised how hard he "works" at his job of playing all day - and learning all day. When your child matches shapes in puzzles or games, works out a sharing system with friends,figures how to make dress-up clothes fit, or even untangle something, he is learning PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS When he works out the sharing system and takes turns, has conversations with others about things around them, plays together with other children, settles an argument, or cooperates in a game or activity, he is learning SOCIAL SKILLS . When your child uses a toy for something completely different, for example turns a pot into a drum, paints, colors, makes a tent from blankets & pillows, uses houshold items in play and others, he is learning CREATIVE SKILLS. When your child acts out everyday life, pretending to cook supper or go to work, makes up stories, poems, songs, plays with puppets and creates a puppet show or other imaginary play, he is learning FANTASY & IMAGINATION. When your child talks about his feelings to another child or provider, recognizes other children's feelings, acts out a discipline situation, for example gives a doll a time out, comforts other children adults or dolls, cares for dolls or stuffies, feeding them, bathing them or comforting them etc, he is learning FEELINGS. When your child uses stacking cups, funnels, etc, to understand volume and size in water play or sand play, remembers something from a previous try like it will only work a certain way, learns words to songs, rhymes, stories. When he recoginzes places he's been berfore or can tell you which is the right way to go, he is learning KNOWLEDGE & CONCEPTS. When your child stays with a particular job in spite of repeated failure and frustrations like building a tower, or doing a puzzles.When he tries to master a skill like jumping rope, riding a bike, skipping, hopping, he is learning PERSISTENCE. So you see....when you ask your child "What did you do at Natalie's house today?" and they respond "Oh we just played" ......please remember all these skills learned through play!! |
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