State how two of the following (art, play, creativity, cross curricular approaches) benefit a child’s learning in the early years classroom. Support your argument with theory and by using examples of different approaches to early years teaching.
This essay will explore how play and cross curricular approaches in teaching early years children can be beneficial to them. It will look at play and cross curricular approaches individually and also how they can be incorporated with maths specifically and work together. One of the most important aspects of early years is play, it is central to a child’s development at this age. Children within early years learn most effectively through experiences such as interacting with objects as well as people
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Play allows children to explore situations and make sense of the real world, practice and build upon ideas, they develop an understanding for rules, and what is right and wrong. Children learn through play how to take risks and accept that mistakes are going to be made, they have the chance to think creatively and use their imaginations as much as they can to invent situations which can be based on real life or fictional. They are taught to communicate with others whilst playing and problem solving, this also encourages them to play fairly and learn how to share (Glenn et al, 2006). In 2004 the Children Act was introduced which recognised the relevance of pay within early years, the act suggested that there were five key outcomes that play based learning contributed towards. The first outcome was that play can support a child physically, mentally, and emotionally through their development and growth, play can teach children how to stay safe by challenging safely and exploring physical and emotional risks. Play encourages children to be in control and have choice which enhances their self esteem. Children gain a respect when playing as they learn to communicate well, by interacting with others, and finally children who have explored play in early years become more confident within later life as they are more likely to engage in lifelong learning (Macleod- Brudenell & Kay, 2008). Play is clearly shown to benefit children and provide them with skills they can use throughout