ECE 31 & 131 - Play Years Intro - Day 8 3/20/19

O. García ~ Spring 2019 1

• Children during the play years• What are they like? • How do they learn?• What are typical behaviors?

Third research project:The play years child

The Play Years Child. Observation of children from 3 to 5 years Project overview§ Child observation:

documentation, analysis § Study guides 8, 9, 10 § Environment evaluation§ ECE 31 – Report: Compare

& Contrast w/ earlier observation of a toddler

Research project # 3 due date April 17

For best results: Observe during this week or before April 3 and no later than April 10.

Observing in the Cabrillo Children’s Center preschool classroom

Just as you walk into the 1500 building the preschool observation room is immediately to your left.

The years from age 3 to age 5 are called “the play years”.

For children, play is a full time occupation… it is not an escape or a distraction from life.It is how children learn and attempt to understand life.

v Why?v What do you

know about children’s play?

Despite individual differences, children at 3, 4 and 5 years of age behave in predictably typical ways as they grow from age 3, to 4 to 5.

Physical development

What accomplishments are evident?

Three-year olds Four-year olds

Five-year old

ECE 31 & 131 - Play Years Intro - Day 8 3/20/19

O. García ~ Spring 2019 2

Three-year olds: cognitive development

Little scientists

üSensory exploration for understanding

üClassification at a basic level

üEmpathy in process

üLots of ideas and lots of questions What skills are demonstrated here?

Four-year olds: Cognitive developmentü Classification skills ü Beginning writingü Creativity if/when

encouragedü Scientists

(discovering cause and effect)

ü Imitating adult models

ü Imagination is strong

ü Fluid boundary between fantasy and reality; fears and “lies”

What abilities are demonstrated in this this photo?

Five-year olds: Cognitive developmentüSolve problemsüPredictüImproved

concepts of number, quantity, size

üClassification along two or more categories

üImproved ability to take other’s point of view

Piaget’s Cognitive Stage 2 Preoperational thoughtüMore advanced than sensorimotorüLittle scientistsüSymbolic thoughtüEgocentricüImaginative, magical üCentration

– Focus on one aspect or idea – Focus on appearance– Static reasoning– Irreversibility

Although there are typical, predictable behaviors for each age, do expect and appreciate individual differences.

Take time to observe children as individuals, noticing their specific characteristics and

accomplishments.

What does the word “environment” include?

Environment as the third teacher.

During your observations focus on the learning environment and notice how the environment, both physical and psychological, influences children’s learning and growth in various developmental areas.

ECE 31 & 131 - Play Years Intro - Day 8 3/20/19

O. García ~ Spring 2019 3

Quiz chapters 5,6,7• Read the instructions• When selecting topics, look at what’s

underlined to help you select the topics you know better – Mark them.

• Begin with the one that you know best• Move on after 7 minutes on a topic• Leave room at the bottom• Trust your good mind• Remember to breathe • Stand and stretch