Discuss the importance of children making choices in their play.

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Unit 8                

A* - Discuss the importance of children making choices in their play.

Issues that could be considered might be that the children are young and can’t make up their mind enough, even though it’s good to let children make choices the adults are to support the child helping and reassuring the child. Some children are more confident playing in a set activity; any child who is not as confident has to be helped and giving motivation to help their development.

“Children like to feel the same as others; living with a medical condition may make a child feel different”

Tassoni p, (2007) childcare and education 3rd edition page 60.

When giving children the opportunities to make choices you make them feel in control and help to build up their self-esteem, children need to make choices to develop their understanding of the world and know how to handle their self, not encouraging them to make choices might lead them to misbehave or rebel. Choices enhance their imagination; play can consist of amusing or imaginative activity for independent play or with others.  The rites of play are evident throughout nature; it helps in their social development. In a classroom it’s important for the children to choose what activities they would like to do, according to Piaget’s constructivist principles if they can make their own decision they will be self-motivated and they will not feel the need to break rules behind the teachers back.

“Play often entertains props, tools, animals, or toys in the context of learning and recreation. Some play has clearly defined goals and when structured with rules is called a game. Whereas, some play exhibits no such goals, nor rules and is considered to be "unstructured" in the literature.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Play_(activity)

A1 – Describe how practitioners can encourage children to direct their own play.

For play to be empowering children must be allowed to take control of their own play rather than follow what adults want them to do”

Tassoni p, (2007) childcare and education 3rd edition pg.318

Practitioners would have to provide activities that would encourage children to play independently, letting the children choose what activates and equipment they want to use can help. When the children are playing on equipment a practitioner could ask the child “how are you supposed to use it” this will make the child show you, it’s good for a quieter child, encouraging them to take part in the play.

When laying out activities or equipment it’s important that you are aware of spaces around, the children will not be encourage to play when an activity is not appealing to them. Make sure that there is enough room for the children to play around it. When choosing the equipment get the children involved let them choose what they would like to play. A practitioner should intervene when the children are choosing numerous activities let one child at a time get a say then the practitioner can make the final decision making sure you explain to other children why they could not have done that activity then.

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Creative play

D1 – describe the activity

You will need;

2 medium sized containers

2 different coloured paints

Paint brushes (different sizes)

Pasta (different shapes)

Different colour sting

Scissors

Coloured paper

Beads

Glue

Pour the pasta into the separate containers.  Allow the children to paint the pasta. Use the different colour paint for each container. When they have finished painting, leave the pasta to dry. When they have dried the children can choose whether to make jewellery or use the pasta to decorate their drawings.

D2 – what is the purpose or aim of the ...

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