Analysis of children's play as shown in E100 DVD Hospital Play from the Open University.

Authors Avatar

        Looking at Children’s Learning        E1OO-TMA02

Part 1

Looking at all three options given, I have chosen ‘Hospital Play’ ( DVD 1, Block 1) to analyse, it is not to different to the setting in which I work in. The practitioner in the clip carries out the same responsibilities, as I would do, supporting and helping the Children through their play. The clip shows a good example of how to motivate boys to engage with pre-writing skills, play alongside others and interact. In the video sequence, a group of children are playing outside in the role play area. In order for this activity to take place outside it is important that the environment is safe and suitable. A risk assessment should take place and be updated every time the activity changes and resources should be changed to so that the children do not become uninterested. In the Practice Guidance for the Early Years Foundation Stage it states ‘An appropriate environment is essential to both safety and effective learning and development.’(DCSF2008, P.17) The practitioners have turned the role play into a ‘Hospital’ they have provided the children with real life resources of syringes, dressing up clothes, latex gloves, dolls, plasters, specimen bottles and pens to write with. By providing real resources they can experience the ‘hospital’ and equipment.

A couple of children are playing on their own for a short while, exploring the resources that have been provided for them before a practitioner joins them,E100 DVD ‘Hospital Play’ at 00.06-02.40. Looking at Katz, its states ‘….children demonstrate by exploring, examining and asking questions about their environment….’ (ST3, p.63). They are communicating with each other and also playing alongside each other. When the practitioner joins the children more children come over to the activity to get involved. They ask each other questions and continue to investigate the resources. The Practice Guidance for the Early Foundation Stage states ‘Use available resources to create props to support role play.’ (DCSF 2008, P.113) They are learning about the world around them. The constructivist view is useful in showing that we can play a role encouraging children to find things out for themselves, to provide good opportunities for exploration and to allow children plenty of practice to consolidate their learning.(ST4,P.98)E100 DVD ‘Hospital Play’ at 02.42-05.40, when the practitioner plays alongside them, they ask for her help and she questions their doing in order to develop their play. She shows them how to do things so that they can become more independent. Chapter 7 in Reader 1 states that ‘the adult is seen as the facilitator of the children’s learning, helping the children to explore ideas and to determine problems that arouse their interest.’(Miller, Devereux,Paige-Smith and Soler,2010,p86)

Join now!

So if the adult provides stimulating activities for the children, they can extend their learning and development. The practitioners have also provided multicultural dolls to promote equal opportunities within the setting, looking at Maria Montessori(ST3,P.56) it states ‘the role of the adult, or ‘directress’, was to observe, support and guide if necessary.’ Within my own setting, we very much let the children explore and investigate the new activity and resources themselves so they can use their own imagination, ‘ICT toys are good for imaginative play’, e.g. mobile phones, laptops etc. This enables us to observe each child individually and see ...

This is a preview of the whole essay