Through my research, I have developed an understanding of the importance of outdoor play. This has helped me to understand how to allow for opportunities to occur for outdoor play. For example, using the weather to my own advantage, if its raining, to take the children out in water proof clothing to play in the rain. This can help children to develop their understanding of the world around them all the whilst playing, which is what the Foundation Phase encourages. I have learnt that there are many ways a child 's development and play are benefited by outdoor play. This is supported by http://www.nct.org.uk (accessed 12/02/2018), which states that "This is important as ... children learn and gain experience through all their senses". It was the staggering amount of benefits that outdoor play had, that has made me realise the importance, and how it will be important to encourage other professionals to use outdoor play more during lessons. It has also made me think about how researching other theorists about play can help me develop my own practice for the future. By researching other theorists, I can get an understanding of what outdoor equipment would benefit the children within my care, which would then mean their play and development is more effective.
Through researching the importance of outdoor play on child 's play, I have come to appreciate how significant it is on a child 's play and learning. Before starting this assignment, I thought that indoor and outdoor
Students in a classroom need to have a set time to be able to go outdoors. As a future teacher, I plan to incorporate nature inside and outside the classroom. For example; in the classroom one can accomplish the walls to have trees, and the ceiling as the sky, and the floor as the ground. There are many ways to include nature inside the classroom for students to be able to learn and to communicate. In the book, “Last Child in the Woods” talks about researches “demonstrating on children how they have the ability to selected where they want to play through natural settings” (Louv, 89).
Another example is allowing the child to explore the outdoor setting by hiding different objects. This will allow the child to play and learn at the same time. It is important that in the setting the environment.
There are some strengths and weaknesses of using the Foundation Phase within the environment. One strength as it can help practitioners to provide different activities while using the space.
This values children’s learning as they have put the children’s interest first which puts children’s learning first as they are playing as well as learning but also enjoying their time playing with others. This approach emphasises the importance of observing children and encouraging them to observe. This approach places an importance on the quality of the experiences that children are given in their early
Understanding the world • The way in which children find out about nature and the world around them.
• How children find out about their local communities.
• The way in which children develop their confidence when using ICT equipment.
Expressive arts and design • The development of children‘s creativity and imagination through art , dance and music .
• How children use play to develop these skills
Personal , social and emotion development
Even if you’re not involved in their play it offers a sense of reassurance to children. You can also support a play based approach to learning by encouraging children to play with things they may not have played with before e.g playing with the resource yourself alongside the child. If a child sees what you can do with the resource then they are more likely to eventually participate along side you, copying what you are doing.
4.3 Evaluate different materials and equipment to support play based learning
opportunities for children in their early years
When arranging activities for play based learning within early years provision there can be barriers towards it from taking place. Before the week begins, planning is needed. When planned activities are prepared resources are needed too. Resources can become a barrier towards play. This is because the resources that were needed were not available to be used.
I agree that play-based learning offers diverse opportunities for children to explore, discover and create, they can also discover new things and communicate with peer during free-play time. Frobel said that “Play is the highest expression of human development in childhood, for it alone is the free expression of what is in a child 's soul” (Froebel, 1887). He believed in the importance of play in a child’s learning as creative activity. Play provided the means for a child’s intellectual, social, emotional and physical development which are necessary elements in educating the “whole” children allowing them to use all imaginative powers and physical movements to explore their interests.
1.2 Summarise how theoretical perspectives and philosophical approaches on play inform practice
The theoretical and philosophical approaches are very useful to practitioners even in today’s time. Below are the way perspectives and philosophies on play inform the early year practice and how they are linked to EYFS.
Approach to play How it inform practice Links to EYFS
Bruce Providing free-flow play where children can access different resources and play.
Despite it being easy to list down various play activities, it is difficult to come up with a set definition for it although it is widely accepted that play should very much be free, unstructured and mostly child-initiated. The purpose of play and the supposed benefits the different types of play aids in the development of a child will be further discussed.
Given that play is such an integral part of a child’s life, based on evolutionary perspectives, there has to be a reason why children engage in play and thus classical play theories attempt to explain the purpose of play.
However, Parents now days feel that playing outside would not be safe but, the essential elements of development mostly gain in rustic play (Burdette & Whitaker, 2005). Children then are more exposed inside the house using technology like gadgets since they are not permitted to go outside.
Positive
When children playing actively outdoors to explore new skills, abilities. He uses their entire body and also uses their all senses and children deals with many challenges on own behalf.
• Wells & Evans (2003) argues that play effects the child’s life. The greater the amount of nature exposure, the greater the benefits.
• Malone & Tranter (2003) Play in a miscellaneous games and outdoor activities to reduces or eliminates
I agree that play-based learning offers different opportunities for children to explore and create, they can also discover new things and communicate with peer during free-play time. Frobel said that “Play is the highest expression of human development in childhood, for it alone is the free expression of what is in a child's soul” (Froebel, 1887). He believed in the importance of play in a child’s learning as creative activity. Play provided the platforms for children’s physical, emotional, social and intellectual development which are essential elements in educating the “whole” children allowing them to use all imaginative powers and physical movements to discover their interests.
It is important that practitioners create an enabling environment within the setting because having an enabling environment plays a big part in supporting children and extending their play, learning and development. Enabling environments with in the Foundation Phase encourages children to play as they will feel more relaxed and comfortable. Also having enabling environment will make the children feel emotionally safe and secure in their setting. If the children feel emotionally safe in the setting they will feel more able and comfortable to explore the environment they are in and the things that are available within the setting that they can see, touch, manoeuvre or manipulate. There are three aspects to creating an enabling environment these
The outdoors is the perfect place for children to understand what the world is all about. They get to learn about the weather, life cycles, the different seasons, how light and dark works, as well as sounds. Nature offers the perfect classroom and children can really benefit from it.
This part of the early year’s curriculum is all about how they learn and not what they learn. This is an important tool and if it is used early enough it can have a positive effect on their lives as they grow and mature.
