1

Play Based

Learning

Simrit Kaur, Ayesha Sadaf & Roya Hooshmand

2

Introduction: Why did we choose this question?

Our main topic was Play-based learning as we branched of we come across the idea of how parents perceive childcare.

We all have experienced parents reactions to play-based learning.

Taking that into consideration: How do we REINTRODUCE play-base learning to

parents? This question sparked our interest because we feel that

many parents are not aware of the value play-based learning has on their child.

3

Branch of Action Research

The branch we chose for this topic is the Professional Branch.

Aim and Intentions: Play based vs. traditional

Focus for Change: Educating ECE’s & parents on play-based learning

Key Principles and Processes: Educated ECE’s = Educated Parents. ECE’s will be able to explain to parents what play based learning is and the importance it has on children.

Theoretical Foundation: If an ECE is able to understand the concept of play based learning then they can implement it in their practice. Once the ECE implements it they can show the parents, for example, through anecdotal observation of how their child is progressing.

4

Educators slam idea of testing preschoolers Defender of play-based learning This article says the push for assessment would be 'a

catastrophe' by Lai Ying-kit and Mimi Lau

states that advocators for play-based learning in kindergarten programs are suggesting that children at the age of four should be tested in the areas of Literacy, Maths and Science.

Professor Morrison said the idea of setting standards and using assessment was to "get children ready for school".(Ying-kit & Lau, 2008)

Ayesha

5

Continued…

According to the article "A sense of failure and being put under pressure because of testing in these early years can contribute to low self-esteem in later life. Many suffer depression in adolescence because they failed to be successful in assessments at an early age. All creativity and freedom in teaching and learning will be lost," (Ying-kit & Lau, 2008)

Professor Morrison defended his suggestion, saying “his focus was not individual tests but continual observation of children's performance. He said assessment did not necessarily involve "paper and pencil" exams, and educators could achieve balance by using methods such as anecdotal assessment, class observation and collecting pupils' journals.” (Ying-kit & Lau, 2008)

Professor Morrison said “his suggestion was not a rejection of play-based programmes but an effort to incorporate assessment.” (Ying-kit & Lau, 2008)

Ayesha

6

Reflection: I chose this topic of reintroducing play-based learning to

parents because this is something that is being taken lightly and does not have the full support from parents

Parents think that their children go to kindergarten to “just play”

the fact that parents see that play-based learning in kindergarten is “playing around” some parents have their children take lots of days off of school

I feel that through play children learn how to be creative, social skills are enhanced, independence is learned and so many other skills are learned that will help the child succeed in life

Ayesha

7

Why play-based learning? – Early Childhood Australia

Key Points of the Article:

What play-based learning is: there is no definite definition of play however there are different elements that identify as play-based learning.

Some of the types of play that were mentioned in the article are symbolic play (often described as pretend play) , active play which is physical, mental and verbal interactions with others or materials, and voluntary play

The role of play-based learning in brain development: play contributes to shaping the structural design of the brain as well as strengthening brain pathways.

“ play allows children to explore, identify, negotiate, take risks…” ( Barblett, 2010, para 8)

Roya

8

Continued:Implementation aspect of play-based learning: By giving suggestions in regards to how to foster play-based learning and

what ECE’s can do In order to incorporate play-based learning, centres should have a

schedule that includes indoors and outdoor physical play, intergrade music and movement as well as adult-child interactions.

Educators need to question themselves to assure they understand what play-based learning means.

Two more important things article suggested for ECE’s to do is to asses, plan accordingly for these environments: physical environment, social and emotional environment, intellectual environment, and temporal environment ( Barblett, 2010).

Overall this article illustrated that in order for EYLF to be implemented ECE’s need to have a well and clear understanding of play-based learning and its importance

Roya

9

Reflection: I believe children learn best through play This belief roots from my childhood / early learning experiences I believe that many people, including parents, simply disregard the

importance of play. I want to offer my generation much more in terms of diverse

learning experiences and specifically advocate for play which is the natural way children learn versus the traditional way of teaching.

I believe Play helps the brain develop potential for learning later in life and I want to be a significant person in a child’s life in their early years of learning to help them foster their potentials to the

fullest.

Roya

10

The Playing Learning Child: Towards a Pedagogy of Early Learning

The article by Ingrid Pramling Samuelsson and Maj Asplund Carlsson is focused on the approach of how the teacher can direct children’s awareness towards the learning objects.

It debates about how play and learning are not always separate in practices during the early years, but go hand in hand.

“school is traditionally seen as a place of learning and not of play, preschool is more often associated with play rather than learning” (Samuelsson & Carlsson, 2008).

As schools have been associated with learning, many tend to overlook the facts that play is a center element in a child’s life.

Simrit

11

Continued…

Samuelsson & Carlsson, (2008) talk about various different aspects such as the recent perspectives on play where they state that children create knowledge when they play.

They also talk about play and learning in some preschool approaches, where they talk about the different types of approaches such as High/Scope, Montessori, Reggio Emilia and Froebel. It states how each approach incorporates play in a way that enhances a child’s learning.

Samuelsson & Carlsson, (2008), also state that “[a] child’s perspective naturally leads to integration between play and learning”. This means that children naturally will learn something from their play

Simrit

12

Reflection The reason I chose this topic is because I think that parents in today’s

society need to realize that their child is just a child. Children want to play and learn, but if you force them to learn they will

not be able to learn as much. If a child is playing with blocks, for example, she might build a house,

then a road, even a car. Their play will reflect their everyday life, and that is what I believe a child should prepare for, everyday life.

Play-based learning in my opinion, focus on getting children’s imagination to come to life. It makes them critical thinkers and allows them to problem solve.

I would like to explain to parents that by placing their child in a play-based learning envrionment will help them give their child a gift of exploration, imagination and a world full of knowledge.

Simrit

13

Summary of Lit review’s There is no definite definition of play however there are different

elements that identify as play-based learning. Play contributes to shaping the structural design of the brain as well as

strengthening brain pathways.

When it comes to traditional learning: Samuelsson & Carlsson (2008), debate how play and learning are not

always separate in practices during the early years, but go hand in hand. Also state that “[a] child’s perspective naturally leads to integration

between play and learning”. This means that children naturally will learn something from their play

A sense of failure and being put under pressure because of testing in these early years can contribute to low self-esteem in later life.

Many suffer depression in adolescence because they failed to be successful in assessments at an early age. All creativity and freedom in teaching and learning will be lost," (Ying-kit & Lau, 2008)

14

Data Collection

Why: I thought it would be better ask question in an interview format

What: I used interviews

Where: Send e-mails to RECE’s and handed out the questionnaire

When: after every group member agreed on the questions we went out and started the questionnaire

Who: Ayesha Sadaf

How: I handed out the questionnaire for the RECE’s to answer

Ayesha

15

Data Collection:

1. What do you think play-based learning is? Play-based learning is learning through play

Positive impact on children’s learning

2. How do you promote play based learning? Add variety of activities and materials open ended activities/materials Physical activity

Ayesha

16

Continued…3. what are the benefits of play based learning for children? Interacting with children Confidence Independence Language, social and cognitive skills Focused on the process not the product maintain physical health, helps to develop imagination and

creativity

Ayesha

17

Data CollectionWhy: photographs of Child care centers to examine environments that promote play based learning

What: Took still photographs

Where: Visit centers in Peel Region.

When: During outdoor play

Who: Roya Hooshmand

How: Asked for permission and took pictures of the room

Roya

18

Data Collection: In the pictures below from different childcare center

settings, play-based friendly environment are evident where the child can learn through play and manipulating the world around him/herself.

The pictures from outdoor play display areas where physical play is promoted.

The indoor pictures show home, block and sensory area. These areas promote learning for children through manipulation. Even though they are playing but the purpose behind it is for them to learn by using their senses.

19

Pictures of Play-based learning environment from different centers

Outdoor playground

Roya

20

Outdoor environment

21

Block area Sensory area

22

Home and Reading Area

23

24

Data CollectionWhy: I thought it would be better to ask question in an interview format. Since our research is based on finding out what parents believe play based learning is, it was important to know their opinion rather then give them options to chooses from.

What: I used interview

Where: family settings (home)

When: after every group member agreed on the questions we went out and started the questionnaire

Who: Simrit Kaur

How: I interviewed parents

Simrit

25

What did parents say?

What do you think play-based learning is? Way of incorporating learning through play activities Good for children under the age of three to obtain stimuli from the

envrionment hence playing with objects….through their senses children learn through muscle activities and indoor and outdoor games When children direct learning by doing what they do best playing.

Simrit

Play-Based Learn-ing

PositiveNegative

40%

When parents were asked if they believe whether Play-based learning had a positive or a negative impact

on their child, 60% said positive and 40% said negative

60%

26

Continued…Which do you think is more effective traditional learning or play based learning? A healthy mixture of both

One should not be excluded for the other but that both would be beneficial to children.

If traditional learning is excluded, you may risk the child not learning "the basics".

If you can engage a child in learning through play, they may be more open to learning and they may also retain what they have learned.

Simrit

27

Analysis of data According to our data the RECE’s have an understanding that play based

learning has a positive impact on children. Because some RECE’s have an understand of the impact of play based

learning, they are able to set the classroom envrionment in a way that is inviting and stimulating for the children.

If RECE’s are able to understand the concept of play based learning, they are better able to explain to parents the positive impact play has on a child.

Parents will be aware that the best way for their child to learn is:

THROUGH !

28

Theorist- Plato Plato believed that “play was central to children’s learning – experiential

learning- The most important part of education is right training in the nursery. The should of the child in his play should be guided to the love of that sort excellence in which when he grows up to manhood he will behave to be perfected” – Laws

Influence of early learning experiences on children’s lives and later behaviours and attitudes.

This relates to our topic because it supports our overall message of how play based is foundation on which a child can prepare for every day life.

Play is the venue through which children learn.

29

Recommendations for future research Based on the research we have done we would suggest to RECE’s that

they should put their theory into practice. If the ECE’s strongly believes in play based learning, they can then

reintroduce play to parents. This can be done by actually having parents come into the classroom to

observe their child while they are playing (learning). This way parents are able to see for them selves that even though

children are “playing” they are learning through it.

Our definition of play is: where the child’s imagination come to life by learning how to be creative, enhancing social skills & independence which helps the child succeed in life.

30

Plans for the futureHow will these findings help to inform you and future RECE’s in their practice?

What can be stated with certainty about your research topic? Provide your recommendations as a result of this topic.

Play-based learning is the natural and most effective way children learn through in early years but it needs to be purposeful play so that the child has the opportunity to explore the world around him/herself and use their own imagination. By taking play away from children, you can potentially take away the extend of learning and developing in different area later in life. Play helps brain to develop potentials for learning later in life, then why should we prevent them from that? ECE’s need to educate parents about the benefits of play. Although There is no definite definition of what play-based learning is, there are common characteristics of the environment that would foster play-based learning which every child care setting should take that into consideration.

31

What continues to puzzle you about this topic?

What continues to puzzle us about this topic is why some parents and professionals are having such a hard time shifting their thought about play-based learning after even knowing all the benefits. What do you still want know about this topic?

When does play based learning stop for children? (at what age?) does it have to stop at all and turn to traditional way of learning or can adults learn the best through play as well? What questions about it do you have now?

How far has play-based learning gone in school system for children over 8 years old when they start learning multiplication and division.

32

“Play is the only way the highest intelligence of humankind can unfold.” ~

Joseph Chilton Pearce (author)

33

Reference: Anderson, A.-B. (2012). Evidence-Based Practice in ECE. Historical Concepts of Early Childhood &

Child Rearing. Brampton, ON: Sheridan College Institude of Technology and Advanced Learning.

Barblett, L. (2010) Why play-based learning?. Retrieved from http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/every_child_magazine/every_child_index/why_play-based_learning.html

Lai Ying-kit, & Mimi Lau. (2008). Educators slam idea of testing preschoolers defender of play-based learning says the push for assessment would be 'a catastrophe'. South China Morning Post, pp. 3.

Samuelsson, I., & Carlsson, M. (2008). The Playing Learning Child: Towards a pedagogy of early childhood. Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research, 52(6), 623-641.