The Amazing Power of P. L. A. Y.
Transcript of The Amazing Power of P. L. A. Y.
Why is play advocacy important? In this age of accountability and high-‐stakes testing, many schools are eliminating physical education, art, music, and recess to make more time for academics. Afterschool program are under similar pressure to replace enrichment and playful learning with homework completion. In order to preserve childhood and protect time for exercising the imagination and building the creativity necessary for success in the 21st century, afterschool educators must become skilled at advocating for the importance of play in the lives of children.
P = Positive Development (Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, and Social Development).Research clearly demonstrates that play supports positive development. •Physical development: gross motor experiences, Iine motor experiences, and physical challenges. •Intellectual/Cognitive development: creativity, abstract thinking, imagination, problem-‐solving, social cognition, empathy, perspective-‐taking, mastering new concepts, attention regulation, concentration, and persistence.•Emotional development: self-‐conIidence, self-‐esteem, anxiety reduction, and therapeutic effects.•Social development: cooperation, sharing, turn-‐taking, communication skills, vocabulary, story telling, emergent literacy, conIlict resolution, leadership skill development (control of impulses and aggressive behavior), and a sense of belonging
Play with a P_____________________________.
Use celebrations and rituals to create a sense of B___________________________________.
Through play, children develop Abstract T________________________. Children begin to think abstractly as play evolves and action becomes driven by meaning and ideas (the horse) and not merely objects (the stick).
Through play, children develop Self D_____________________________________. As play evolves, and the imaginary situation gives way to the rules of the game, children experience pleasure while learning to follow the rules.
When staff “make like a puppy” and bring FUNERGY to the program, children mirror this and the positive energy spreads.
Play creates the Zone of Proximal D________________________________________. Play provides the novelty, challenge, and motivation to advance developmentally, while adults facilitate and scaffold the learning by raising the bar.
In play, children develop above their actual level of development as if in the focus of a magnifying glass.
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The Amazing Power of
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L = Learning (Brain Development and the Power of Emotions and Neurotransmitters).Play and learning are not dichotomous. Play is the essence of childhood learning.
Academics-‐only programs result in more anxiety, less self-‐esteem, less creativity, and more negative attitudes toward school; while play-‐oriented programs are just as successful or more successful in promoting learning outcomes.
Social Interactions strongly inIluence brain c_______________________________. Emotions drive attention and create meaning.
What we learn with p__________________________________, we NEVER forget. Play creates emotional seasoning that helps facts, information, and learning stick in the brain.
Playful emotions reduce stress, which can reduce learning.
The longer someone is in a particular emotional state, the more s______________________________ that state becomes = their HOME STATE.
A = Active (the Mind-‐Body Link, the vessel of the Brain is the body -‐ healthy/unhealthy).The brain is enhanced by active play. Active, hands-‐on, playful experiences are important for learning.
Daily physical education results in greater academic performance and a better attitude toward school.
Physical activity is good for the body and the brain. It affects mood, vitality, alertness and feelings of well-‐being. Activity provides the brain with oxygen, glucose, nutrients, neurotransmitters, and Brain-‐Derived Neurotropic Factor (BDNF) aka...
M_______________________________ G ______________________ for the brain.
Cutting-‐edge neuroscience shows that play is of one of the most effective strategies for learning and ought to be an essential part of teaching.
Y = You (Play begins with YOU! Staff role models who know how to play and value play).Play is important for adults too. We must show that we gain satisfaction and p________________________________ from developing and using our skills.
How adult role celebrate deIines the culture of your organization. Adult role models must celebrate work, celebrate learning, celebrate success, and celebrate teamwork. Work hard -‐ play hard!
The Amazing Power of
P. L. A. Y.
e-mail: [email protected]