what is purposeful play and which activities support children's learning and development?

[maddee12]

can anyone help me with these three questions from unit 11

1.3 Identify activities, purposeful play opportunities and educational programmes that can be used for learning and development in line with the current education framework
3.2 Explain how learning and play experiences, environments and opportunities need to be appropriate for different learners
3.3 Identify different learning and play experiences, environments and opportunities that meet the different needs of a specific child/group of children.

[Ruthierhyme]

Hi, thinking about what purposeful play is all about and what happens each day in your setting, what type of activities have you spotted going on? eg, time for the children to come together and enjoy activities that help them solve problems - when would you say this happens? At registration time, carpet or circle times? When can children negotiate with each other - learning how to share and take turns.

Does the setting have a sand tray, playdough table, easel area, dressing up rails, doll houses, small world animals, cars and garages, bricks & jigsaws, bookshelf, outdoor areas and equipment that help the children to learn independently and with help from others.

Does your setting use the EYFS framework? as this will be what you'll need to reference.

Educational programmes might be topics of learning that relate directly to the seven areas of learning for exapmle for one aspect of children's physical development there might be a planned time that everyone goes to a hall/gym for activities that support children being able to move around a large space safely. Consider the balance of free-flow access from inside to outside & outside to in, child initiated and adult led activities both planned and spontaneous - these theories of play & learning link to page 8 & 30

This is a quote from page 9 of the EYFS framework:

1.8. Each area of learning and development must be implemented through planned, purposeful play and through a mix of adult-led and child-initiated activity.

Play is essential for children’s development, building their confidence as they learn to explore, to think about problems, and relate to others.

Children learn by leading their own play, and by taking part in play which is guided by adults. There is an ongoing judgement to be made by practitioners about the balance between activities led by children, and activities led or guided by adults.

Practitioners must respond to each child’s emerging needs and interests, guiding their development through warm, positive interaction. As children grow older, and as their development allows, it is expected that the balance will gradually shift towards more activities led by adults, to help children prepare for more formal learning, ready for Year 1.

Page 160+ of this EYE handbook will be useful reading

Purposeful Play: A Teacher's Guide to Ignite Deep and Joyful Learning Across the Day Kristine Mraz, Alison Porcelli, and Cheryl Tyler


3.2 requires you to look at the different ways that children learn for example some children like to observe before joining in, some like whole body physical activity such as sit & ride vehicles, climbing frames and ball games, some like quieter activities such as markmaking, books, some children find messy play enjoyable where others are less interested. You may find that gender plays a role in your setting and activities might be planned so that all children are included. There might also be children of mixed ages and abilities, stages of development so that areas are organised to make sure they are interesting and suitable for everyone.

Be careful with 3.3 you may feel you're repeating yourself if you've written extensively for 3.1 and 3.2,

Identify means to recognise, list, name or otherwise characterise - it's not to describe or explain. So think about a specific group of children in your setting and the play opportunities that are available to them. Specific could be age, ability, key-person's group.

Hope this all helps a little