The Importance of Play: Toddler to School-Age...

The Importance of Play: Toddler to School-Age

Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. These Materials are copyrighted © and trademarked ™ as the property of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of TEA, except under the following conditions: 1) Texas public school districts, charter schools, and Education Service Centers may reproduce and use copies of the Materials and Related Materials for the districts’ and schools’ educational use without obtaining permission from TEA. 2) Residents of the state of Texas may reproduce and use copies of the Materials and Related Materials for individual personal use only, without obtaining written permission of TEA. 3) Any portion reproduced must be reproduced in its entirety and remain unedited, unaltered and unchanged in any way. 4) No monetary charge can be made for the reproduced materials or any document containing them; however, a reasonable charge to cover only the cost of reproduction and distribution may be charged. Private entities or persons located in Texas that are not Texas public school districts, Texas Education Service Centers, or Texas charter schools or any entity, whether public or private, educational or non-educational, located outside the state of Texas MUST obtain written approval from TEA and will be required to enter into a license agreement that may involve the payment of a licensing fee or a royalty. For information contact: Office of Copyrights, Trademarks, License Agreements, and Royalties, Texas Education Agency, 1701 N. Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701-1494; phone 512-463-7004; email: [email protected].

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Copyright

Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.

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Types of Play

Solitary Play

Parallel Play

Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved. 3

Types of Play

Associative Play Cooperative Play


Physical Development

Caregiver Strategy Objective

Helps toddlers develop large muscle coordination and balance

Encourage large and small muscle development

Encourage eye-hand coordination


Teaching Strategies for Toddlers from Twelve to Eighteen Months



Encourage use of climbing equipment, such as inclines or sturdy boxes

Helps toddlers develop large muscle coordination and balance

Provide a safe area and a target for toddlers to throw small, soft objects

Encourage large and small muscle development

Put toys and objects where they can reach, grasp, and move them

Encourage eye-hand coordination



Emotional Development


Consistently smile and laugh to show happiness. Use a firm voice and no smile to show anger

Helps toddlers develop confidence in recognizing emotions in others

Provide opportunities and props for acting out fear, insecurity, joy, and anger

Encourage toddlers to express emotions and resolve conflicts



Social Development


Provide ample materials and toys so sharing may be encouraged but not required

Helps toddlers develop a positive self-concept



Cognitive Development


Helps toddlers develop concept of object permanence. Encourage toddlers to investigate cause and effect relationships

Helps toddlers develop vocabulary and encourage talking



Cognitive Development


Hide toys while toddlers watch. Ask them to find the toys. Praise successful efforts. Provide time and materials that encourage toddlers to search and identify the cause of certain actions, such as rolling a ball under a chair

Helps toddlers develop concept of object permanence. Encourage toddlers to investigate cause and effect relationships

Play sound games. Point out a picture of an animal and make the sound it makes

Helps toddlers develop vocabulary and encourage talking



Toddlers from Eighteen to Twenty-Four Months


Toddlers in this age group gain more control over large muscles and continue to develop fine motor skills.



Encourage large muscle control and coordination

Encourage large muscle control and coordination. Helps toddlers develop balance

Help toddlers develop small muscle control and coordination

Encourage small muscle skills and creativity


Teaching Strategies for Toddlers from Eighteen to Twenty-Four Months



Provide an area for kicking a ball into a cardboard box or a corner

Encourage large muscle control and coordination

Provide a space for fast and slow riding of cycles, turning curves, and riding in circles

Encourage large muscle control and coordination. Helps toddlers develop balance

Provides materials, such as zipper boards and jars with lids, to stimulate manipulation

Help toddlers develop small muscle control and coordination

Provide markers and crayons Encourage small muscle skills and creativity





Communicate verbally and nonverbally to toddlers during playtime

Encourage self-expression of emotions and develop self-esteem

Listen to toddlers’ fears and fantasies

Help toddlers develop self-esteem

Allow toddlers to show intense swings in emotions and behavior

Help toddlers develop self-esteem and encourage emotional expression and self-control of behavior



Social Development


Understand that toddlers think that others feel and think as they do

Encourage a positive self-image and help establish identity

Help the toddler identify and express verbally the feelings others show in their behavior

Encourages awareness of others and their feelings

Encourage and work beside toddlers who want to help clean up

Encourage desirable social traits



Cognitive and Language Development


Allow toddler time to work out solutions to puzzles

Help toddlers develop use of mental trial and error skills

Identify ideas or themes in toddlers’ symbolic play that seem important to them

Help identify areas important to fulfilling the toddlers’ needs

Recognize meanings of toddlers’ use of words

Provide insight into the toddlers’ meaning of different words and concepts

Patiently answer toddlers’ questions in simple, clear, short sentences

Help toddlers develop proper language skills through imitation of positive model



Child’s Telescope

Cognitive Connections

Classification

Recognition

Language and vocabulary

Joint attention

Perspective taking




Social Development


24-30 months


Teaching Strategies for Toddlers from Twenty-Four to Thirty Months



Social Development


24-30 months Play games with toddlers

Provide activities where toddlers can succeed

Provide materials that require sharing

Allow toddlers to create their own classifications of actions, objects, or behaviors


Teaching Strategies for Toddlers from Twenty-Four to Thirty Months

Child’s Puppets

Cognitive Connections

Imagination

Abstract thinking

Language

Sequencing




Social Development


30-36 months Play games and sing songs which include jumping, clapping, running in place, and walking

Reinforce toddlers’ excitement with learning

Use daily routines to help control wait time

Have toddlers use art to represent objects, feelings, or ideas


Teaching Strategies for Toddlers from Thirty to Thirty-Six Months

Play, Literacy, and Development for Toddlers


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Math

Science

Physical movement

Outdoor play

Art

Music

Play is the work of children

Playing for children is learning

Offer a variety of different learning activities


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Role of Play in Growth and Development of the Preschool Child

Provide your child opportunities to play


Language and General Knowledge for Preschoolers

Support and guide your child as he or she learns a new activity


Language and General Knowledge for Preschoolers

Appropriate development activities for school-age children should include several strategies. These children are:

learning to see things from the viewpoint of others

using deductive and inductive reasoning

noting transformations

focusing on more than one part


Appropriate Development Activities for School-Age Children

Be Creative in Guiding Play of School-Age Children


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Expect wishes, rhymes, and jokes.

Expect monster stories and games with exact rules.

Be prepared for and expect children to sometimes be bored.

Create celebrations for fun and learning.

Be Creative in Guiding Play of School-Age Children


Encourage role-playing to let children express their feelings and give them a chance to pretend.

Encourage their love of drama through skits.

Support their enthusiasm for joining club.

The Importance of Play

(click on link)


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The Crucial Role of Play in Early Childhood

http://youtu.be/8KtUhKVFjJI



Brain Development Through Play

(click on link)


Promoting Healthy Brain Development

http://youtu.be/prbLhqBsx4M



Special Needs Children and Play


Promote positive interactions by providing materials and learning experiences which encourage cooperation.

Plan learning experiences that give children a chance to interact positively.

The Power of Play

(click on link)


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Special Needs Children and Play

http://youtu.be/pwWeW7PTB_w



The education of children shapes their own personal

development and life chances, as well as the

economic and social progress of our Nation.

• Reading to young children

• Mathematics and reading achievement


The Education of Children

Microsoft Clip Art: Used with permission from Microsoft.

Textbook: Decker, C. (2011). Child development: Early stages through age 12. (5th ed.). Tinley Park: Goodheart-Willcox Company.

Websites:

AblePlay AblePlayTM is a toy rating system and website that provides comprehensive information on toys for children with special needs. AblePlay was created so parents, special educators, therapists and others can make the best decisions when purchasing products for children in their lives with disabilities. http://www.ableplay.org/content/search-products

AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS Selecting Appropriate Toys for Young Children: The Pediatrician’s Role Articles on appropriate toys for young children http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/111/4/911.full

Fat Brain Toys Toys, games, and tools for children and adults with special developmental needs. http://www.fatbraintoys.com/special_needs/index.cfm

Lekotek The country’s central source on toys and play for children with special needs. Top Ten tips for choosing toys for children. http://www.lekotek.org/resources/informationontoys/tentips.html

National Association for the Education of Young Children Articles and information on children http://www.naeyc.org


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References and Resources

YouTube™: Promoting Healthy Brain Development: You Can Make A Difference Learn how you can make a difference in young children's brain development through everyday activities. Visit www.bbbgeorgia.org for more information. http://youtu.be/prbLhqBsx4M Special Needs Kids and the Power of Play Video demonstrating the healing power of fun and toys for children with disabilities and their families. http://youtu.be/pwWeW7PTB_w The Crucial Role of Play in Early Childhood This video was created to demonstrate the importance of play for young children. The slide show is set to "Upside down" by Jack Johnson. http://youtu.be/8KtUhKVFjJI


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References and Resources







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