DIPLOMA IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

ANM4013 Programme Planning & Development in Early Childhood

Assignment 2: Individual Assignment

Tittle: The Role of Play in Early Childhood Education Programme

Lecturer: Miss Grace

Written by:
Lingirl Bong Joo Er (SCSWK2100321)
1a. Definition of play
“Play” also plays an important role in early childhood education. So, what does play means
and what is the definition of play. In my opinion, play is an activity that helps to increase the
ability of exploration, imagination and decision making of children. This is because children
are able to learn to explore the surroundings easily when they are [Link] is also
described as children’s work , which means that when children are playing , they will feel
enjoyable throughout [Link] cannot deny that play is also an important aspect of the
children’s [Link] play , it able to help to develop children’s physical,
social, emotional and also their cognitive [Link] early childhood educators nowadays
often apply play-based approach and also having free play time in the lesson because , play
enable the children to explore the surrounding through their senses in a very natural way.

[Link] of play
There are many types of play that enable it to help the children's [Link] to a
study from the AMerican Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), play is essential to development
because it contributes to the cognitive, physical, social and emotional well-being of children
and youth. Through play, children are able to develop problem solving , creative thinking ,
and communication skills. Besides that , we are able to develop fine and gross motor skills
through play activities. There are five types of play that enable the children’s development.
I. Symbolic Play
Symbolic Play is also called the pretend [Link] symbolic play , children are
able to develop their imaginative skills and creative [Link] only that , by
conducting symbolic play, we are also able to enhance the children’s social
understanding. By having symbolic play , children are able to engage in imaginative
[Link] will pretend to be someone or create scenarios by using objects and
toys that they have on their hand. For example, some children might be using their
lego to pretend to be a toy car. Some children will even use a toy spoon to pretend to
be a phone to call their friends.
II. Constructive Play
Constructive play is a type that also helps the development of the children. Through
constructive play children will learn to explore the materials and objects around the
children. Then, the children will have the opportunity to learn to use the materials,toys
and objects around them to build and create a structure. By this way , we are able to
foster the children's problem-solving skills and also fine motor development. For
 example , children can use lego to build a lego building with their own [Link]
will help the children to learn to enjoy the process when playing.
III. Social Play
Social play is a type of play that children play with adults or other kids. There are
many types of social play, which are cooperative play, parallel play and also group
activities. Social play usually happens in children about the age of four and helps the
children to develop their social skills , empathy skills and learn to socialize with
[Link] also know that , when children are playing together , conflicts will be
happening also. Throughout social play , children are able to develop their problem
solving skills by letting the children solve the conflict between them by using the
steps that were taught by the teacher earlier.
IV. Physical Play
Physical Play is also a type of play that should be included in the children’s
development. Physical play is the type of activity that involves the children's
movements, which means children need to move when playing. Running, jumping,
climbing, and playing sports are examples of physical play activities. Having physical
activities can burn excess energy so that children will not be too active when
conducting quiet time activities. We could not deny that , when children are having
physical play , children are able to develop their gross motor skills and their
coordination level as physical play is a type of play that needs a lot of body
movement.
V. Game with Rules
Games with rules means that games that are conducted by having rules. When
children are getting old, children are more encouraged to have games that are
conducted with specific [Link] having rules while conducting a game , we are able
to train the children self-regulation and be cooperative with the rules given by the
instructure. Not only that , when children are playing games that are being conducted
with rules , children will learn to understand the rules and boundaries of a game. This
method will help us to develop the children that will follow the rules when doing any
task or playing any games with rules.
c. Importance of play
We could not deny that play also plays a very important role throughout the children's
[Link] children apply play activities in their daily lives , children are able to
develop themselves from different development areas
I. Cognitive Development.
Cognitive skills will be developed when the children play with [Link] playing,
children will improve and train their cognitive skills such as problem-solving ,
decision making skills , creativity skills , imagination and also their critical thinking.
For example, when children are drawing ,children can train to be more creative and
able to develop their imagination.
II. Social and Emotional Skills
When children are playing, children will be playing with peers and adults. When
children are playing , children will have the chance to socialize with others. By this
way , we are able to train the children's social skills because they will be having the
opportunity to practice to communicate with others. Besides that , play also provides a
safe space for the children to express and understand their emotions. Not only that,
when children play , they will also be able to train to have better emotional
management.
III. Language Development
Through play , children are able to have better language development especially on
the children's vocabulary and also children’s communication skills. Language
development will be developed more when the children are playing pretend play or
having storytelling [Link] when children are telling a story, children will have the
chance to read and learn the new words written in the story book.
IV. Motor Skills Development
Play is also important to help the development of children’s motor skills development.
For example , when children are conducting constructive play or physical play.
Children will use a lot of energy while playing and also require a lot of body
[Link], these types of play will contribute to the development of children’s fine
motor skills and also their gross motor [Link] has shown when the children are
building structures by using blocks during constructive play and even conducting
activities such as running, jogging and even swimming.
2a. Contribution of Play for Children’s Cognitive Development
I. Contribution
It is important that children develop cognitive development. Cognitive development
refers to the thinking ability and the ability to speak out [Link] is important that
children should develop their cognitive development because when it helps the
children to train their self recognition and also children will learn about understanding
other people perspectives and feelings.
II. Benefits
When children play , children are able to enhance their critical thinking [Link]
example, when children are playing question-based games , children will have the
opportunity to learn to ask questions by using questions such as why, when, what and
how. This will help to train the children logistics conclusion also.

When the children's cognitive development has been developed , children are also
able to develop and improve more on their senses. When children are playing through
sensory play, children are able to learn to play by combining their senses. Such as
vision,taste,hearing,touch and smell. By having sensory play, children are also able to
learn to make [Link] only that , children will learn to use sense to learn
about the environment and also familiarize themselves with the new objects around
them.
III. Evidence
For example , when the children are conducting or following a play , children will
learn to follow [Link] only that , when children are doing puzzles or building
a structure with complex toys , children are able to develop their cognitive skills as
throughout these types of games , children learn to develop their problem-solving
skills and also their creativity [Link] children are building up a structure,
children will need to imagine the structure that what they wanted to build for.

b. Contribution of Play for Children’s Social Development

I. Contribution
We could not deny that , when children are playing. Children are also able to develop
their social [Link] is because when children are playing , children will be
having the chance to play with friends and peers.
II. Benefits
 Through play , children will learn to explore their feelings. For example when
children have built up a structure successfully, children will express their feeling that
they feel happy as they had success in building up a structure.

Not only that when children's social development has been developed , children are
able to learn to form relationships with other friends as throughout social play as
throughout social play children will play and communicate between each other.
III. Evidence
Social skills will be developed when children are playing in [Link] the children
are playing in groups , children will be communicating with others. Not only that ,
when children role play,children will learn about collaboration between each
[Link] will learn about how to respond to others' feelings and share their own
[Link] children are playing in a group , we also cannot avoid conflicts
happening. Through group play , children will learn to solve conflicts that happen
between each other.
c. Contribution of Play for Children’s Emotional Development
I. Contribution
Play also plays an important part to develop the children's emotional [Link]
the children play, children are able to learn to express their emotions. Besides that ,
children are able to learn to express their stress when they enjoy play as an
[Link] is because , when children feel stress , children will be relaxed when they
are [Link] them they might be feeling that playing is a way for them to express
their stress as through play , they will learn to speak out their feelings and also their
emotions
II. Benefits
Through play , children will learn about empathy. Empathy will be develop in
children through role play especially when taking different roles to act an
[Link] these types of play , children will learn to identify and also
understanding the feelings and perspectives of others

Besides that , through play , children will be able to increase and improve their social
skills such as cooperation,sharing and also communication. This is because , when
children are playing they will be involved in interaction with peers,siblings and
 adults. This will cause them to develop their social [Link] will also learn to
differentiate social situation and understanding others emotion and feeling
III. Evidence
Social development could be developed when children are solving puzzles or playing
games that require [Link] having these types of games , when children face
problems on the strategies given, children may learn to solve the strategies by
themselves. If they have success in doing the strategies given ,they will learn to
express the feeling that they feel happy. If they did not succeed in solving the
strategies given , they might learn to express the feeling of not giving up or feeling
not happy.
[Link] of Incorporating Play into Curriculum
Play is a method that enables the children to learn in a relaxing way and also an enjoyable
method for the children to learn about play. So it is also encouraged to add in play as a
method of teaching into the [Link] what are the strategies that might be faced when
incorporating play into curriculum.
I. Elaborating play as a method of teaching across subjects
We could use thematic approaches when teaching children by using play. Not only
that when conducting play lessons, we should find opportunities that allow play to be
taught in different subjects. For example, we can prepare water with different objects
and put the toys into the water to observe the position of the object in the water. By
using this method we can teach the children about the concept of sink and float that is
related to science when they are playing.
II. Conducting outdoor learning and exploration.
By inserting play in the curriculum , we can take the opportunity to bring the children
to conduct outdoor [Link] example , we can create an environment that is able
for the children to have hands-on exploration and play with. So that children are able
to use their senses to explore the world as we had taken the opportunity to conduct
nature-based activities that enables them to move around the surroundings.
III. Develop collaborative and cooperation between children
When we conduct play in lessons , we can conduct group activities for the children.
By having group activities , we are able to train the children’s communication skills
and also [Link] is because children will try to work together to get success
for an [Link] children apply teamwork when conducting an activity , they are
able to develop their problem solving skills when solving a strategy given during the
game.
b. Alignment of Incorporating Play with educational standards
c. Practicality and feasibility of proposed strategies for Incorporating Play
There are some strategies that could be used to incorporate play into children’s learning.
I. Educators could make learning an adventure.
For example , if the teacher wanted to teach children about [Link] teacher can
decorate the classroom like a zoo and put some pictures of the animal around each
[Link] could also prepare some toy animal and prepare some cards that have
the picture of animals so that children will recognise the name of the animal and also
know about the how the animals look like.
II. Educators can use different methods while teaching.
For example, when we wanted to teach the children to recognise new words. Teachers
could teach the children by acting out the shape with their body [Link] only
that if we wanted to teach the children in a more interesting way like doing the art
craft with different letters so that feel enjoy and like to learn new things in school.
4a. Role of the Educator in Facilitating play-based learning
Play based learning is a type of learning that children learn through [Link] on the
reference done in the open library website, there are two types of play , which is free play that
is child-directed activity and also guided play , which needs guidance from the adults. So,
educators play the role as a facilitator for the children during guided play.
I. Providing a playful environment for young children
Educators play an important role in setting up a safe and play-friendly space for the
children to play [Link] planning an environment , educators should be preparing
age-appropriate materials and toys for children. So that children are able to develop
the children’s creativity, exploration and also the children's problem solving skills.
When the educators have provided a playful environment it enables to provide a safe
and enjoyable environment for the children to conduct imaginative play, construction
play and also sensory activities.
II. Monitor the children’s needs and interest
When the Educators play a role as a facilitator, educators will be the role of observing
the children’s action when they are playing through doing assessments such as having
a checklist. By this method , educators are able to observe the interest and the talent of
the children. As we observe the talent of the children , we can excavate the talent that
they have so that it could be advantageous for the children during the future.
III. Develop children’s social skills
We could not deny that educators also play an important role in developing children’s
social skills. For example , when educators are conducting a group play , educators
should be a role model for the children by showing and teaching children some
positive attitudes such as learning about sharing and taking turns. Educators could
also be the guidance of guiding children when they are resolving the conflicts that are
happening between each other.
b. Understanding of responsibilities of Educators
Educators play an important role for guiding children in play based learning. So what are the
responsibilities of the educators while monitoring children in play based learning.
I. Monitoring and guiding the children when playing
When children are playing, teachers should be beside the children and guiding
[Link] should observe the children's interest, strengths, and developmental
progress when they are [Link] the items that have been observed should be
recorded so that we are able to tell the parents about the children’s learning process.
 II. Supporting the children’s development
When the children are playing , educators have to guide beside the children. When the
children are playing or trying to play a new item , we should support them by
encouraging them to try new [Link] children have support from adults , children
will feel motivated and will try to play the new items
III. Having communication and collaboration
When the children are at school , parents will not know about the learning process of
the children. When the educators are being the facilitators when the children are
playing, educators are able to know the learning progress and the development of the
[Link] educators should share the observation that they had made so that
parents could also know about the learning process of the children. Besides that , we
can share the situation of children in the school to the parents. So that when there are
issues happening on the children, educators can discuss with the parents to find a
solution to settle the problem happening on the children.
c. Consideration of the educator as a facilitator of learning.
As an educator , we play an important role when we are facilitating the children when they
are learning. There are some considerations that we need to consider when we are facilitating
the children when learning.
I. Differences between children
Each child has their own learning style and has a different learning [Link] that ,
we as the educator should address different types of learning materials and also have
different teaching methods so that children will understand the topic that want to
teach
II. Building a good relationship with the children
When educators have built up a good relationship with the children , we are able to
ensure that children will be having a positive environment when they are having their
lesson. This is because when educators have built up a good relationship , we are able
to ensure that children will like the teacher and feel enjoyable when coming to the
classes.
5a. Challenges in implementing play-based learning.
Although play-based learning is a good learning method that could be introduced to the
children, there are some challenges when implementing play-based learning in kindergarten.
I. Conflicts and arguments happening
Although conducting play is a good method for teaching children during their learning
development. Sometimes , it is hard to have rules that are agreed by all the
[Link] children may like the rules and instructions that are given and
sometimes children will not agree with the rules and instructions given because they
might be not interested in the game that has been designed.
II. Children may cause themselves in dangerous situation
Sometimes, children will care too much about the result of the game. For example ,
children will only want to win in a [Link], they will fight against friends
when they have lost in a [Link] only that , sometimes when children want to win in
a competition , children might be thinking they want to win the game. Sometimes ,
when they do too fast , they might fall or get injured easily as they might get
themselves into dangerous situations when they are playing.
III. Some parents may disagree on teaching through play
Some older generation parents do not agree on teaching through play because they
think that children should learn new knowledge from books [Link] of the parents
may also think that play is a method that wastes time and children could not learn any
new knowledge through playing.

b. Effective and practical solutions.

There are some solutions that could be used to apply play-based learning in kindergarten.
I. Asking about the preference
Before conducting a game , we can ask the children to have a voting session on
choosing the game that they [Link] will ensure that children will enjoy the game
that had been planned. Thus they are able to learn new knowledge easily through the
games that they like.

II. Stricten the rules

When playing , we should ensure that rules are being given [Link] that when
children are playing , children will not obey the instruction given and they will follow
the instruction given.
c. Potential obstacles and mitigation.
By having play based learning we are able to provide a positive learning environment for
children. As throughout play based learning , we will not be putting assessment for
[Link] assessment and test will sometimes be a very stressful issue for the children
as children will feel stress if they could not get good result.
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