We are wild about playing!
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As astronauts and space travelers children puzzle over the future; as dinosaurs and princesses they unearth the past. As weather reporters and restaurant workers they make sense of reality; as monsters and gremlins they make sense of the unreal.
- Gretchen Owocki Contemporary American Early Childhood Educator. |
Why Make Time for Play in the classroom?
•Demonstrates higher mental skills
•Facilitates separation of thoughts from actions and objects
A block can be a boat
•Preparation for the development of abstract ideas and thinking
•Facilitates the development of self regulation
Need to follow “rules” of play
•Impacts motivation
Can hold long term goal to achieve short term (decorate and then have the party)
•Facilitates de-centering
Take other peoples’ perspectives in play, which will lead to reflective thinking
•Just right risks and growth mindset opportunities
•Demonstrates higher mental skills
•Facilitates separation of thoughts from actions and objects
A block can be a boat
•Preparation for the development of abstract ideas and thinking
•Facilitates the development of self regulation
Need to follow “rules” of play
•Impacts motivation
Can hold long term goal to achieve short term (decorate and then have the party)
•Facilitates de-centering
Take other peoples’ perspectives in play, which will lead to reflective thinking
•Just right risks and growth mindset opportunities