How does current theories of play inform practice in childcare?

Question

How does current theories of play inform practice in childcare?

Answer 1

Your framing of the question suggests you will not understand an appropriate answer.

Suffice to say we need less analysis of parenting and more reliance on a parent's natural instinct.

Told you

Answer 2

I kind of agree with the answer about you not really understanding etc. If you're doing this for a course, the theories of play are absolutely crucial and should completely inform everything you do in your practice. Young children learn through play. This is fact. It is essential in their learning. Now you need to get some good text books and theorists  eg Froebel, Piaget, Vygotsky, Garvey, Bruce, just about any child theorst, the list is endless, and find out how and why play is crucial. If you don't or can't do this, you're probably on the wrong course!!

Answer 3

it is all about learning acceptable rules of conduct, and is quite baloney

Answer 4

It depends on 'current':

Most recent=

Birth To Three-believes in learning through play and the importance of the adult relationship with the child. It is based around holistic and heuristic ideas.

Foundation Stage=sets targets that children should aim to have reached by the time they are 5. It works with observing children and then planning to extend what they already know. It is very socio-cultural as it is based around what the government believes children should know. It is also based on play.

Every Child Matters-believes in partnership between education, health and families. It believes this approach leads to healthy, safe, contributing children.

Other theorists to look up are:

Piaget-schemas and modes of play.

Vygotsky-Socio-cultural belief and Zone of Proximal Development.

Skinner-Behaviourism-believes in rewards for positive behaviours.

Good Luck!

ps: You may want to buy an NVQ book to help you with your studies. Trust me its worth the money!

Answer 5

Years ago, educators thought preschool children could learn just like elementary school kids. and thought if we put them in school early they will all learn to read and write quicker. So nursery schools developed that tried to sit three year old children down and teach them to write letters and numbers . Well three year old children don't like to sit and write. they like to play with play dough, and water and sand. They like to buil d with blocks and trucks and play house and take care of babies. Some educators noticed this and some very good teachers notice that when children were building with blocks they were counting how many were in a row, they were measuring which tower was higher, they noticed one block was longer, they learned the word square and rectangle. You can apply this to any area in a good preschool environment and you will see that children do learn through play and that good teachers point out new things to children as they play. That is how the early childhood profession teaches through play. But do read the many theorists to really understand.