What is Holistic Play?

Question

What is Holistic play and how do I find out more about it? Is it the same as Heuristic play - playing with treasure baskets etc ?

Answer 1

Holistic education is about the whole person.

'First, children need to learn about themselves. This involves learning self respect and self esteem. Second, children need to learn about relationships. In learning about their relationships with others, there is a focus on social “literacy” (learning to see social influence) and emotional “literacy” (one’s own self in relation to others). Third, children need to learn about resilience. This entails overcoming difficulties, facing challenges and learning how to ensure long-term success. Fourth, children need to learn about aesthetics – This encourages the student to see the beauty of what is around them and learn to have awe in life..' Wikipedia.

'Heuristic play ‘consists of offering a group of children, for a defined period of time in a controlled environment, a large number of different kinds of objects and receptacles with which they play freely without adult intervention’'  Elinor Goldschmied and Sonia Jackson.

Usually everyday, natural, non-commercial objects, and the child makes free choices as to what they play with. The adult does not get involved with the play, using the session to observe the choices and discoveries made. At the end the children are encouraged to tidy away,  whatever their age.

Answer 2

holistic is about the whole person it is play tha will involve all  parts of person

Answer 3

Sounds remarkably like jargon to me. Ask the Tutor to explain more fully.

Answer 4

play that follows the child's interests.

Answer 5

Holistic play would be something like playdough it covers many different aspects of learning, there are fine and gross motor skills, construction, language, creative play knowledge and understanding of the world it can be used for maths.

It is an activity that covers many different learning aspects.  Heuristic play and treasure baskets are different that is aimed at younger children usually birth to three and allows with them to play with things like beaded necklaces corks, safe household objects.

hope that helps