19th February 2018

“Children learn as they play. Most importantly, in play, children learn how to learn.” - O Fred Donaldson

The play is the universal language of young children where they unite. Children engaged in play activities show you how your child is feeling and developing. As young children grow in their formative stages, they start to explore and express themselves.

The essential functions and responsibilities of a pre-school and a trainee in Pre Primary Teacher Training Courses in India are nurturing a learning environment which will help the child to thrive in a healthy manner.

Teacher interventions during play take on many possibilities from assisting with problem-solving, questioning, redirecting undesired behaviours, and enticing children into play themes. Teachers must also teach play skills to children who have difficulty entering into a play scenario.

Play and feelings are interconnected:

By playing out stressful situations, children can learn to cope with their feelings.  Infants explore their world through their senses while adults in their world foster their development and learning through playing games with them.

Engaging children in play is a voluntary engagement in self-motivated activities that are associated with a holistic development. A free-flowing unstructured pattern followed for play in early childhood is an important way that children learn about their world and an avenue through which social skills can develop.

As children get older playing games of skill helps them to learn to control their impulses and to be patient. Children learn about controlling their impulses in order to do well at something and about space, negotiating and problem-solving.

When children play, they have active engagement with materials. They are intrinsically motivated and have freedom from external rules. Allow children to be attentive to the process at hand which makes them display a positive effect when playing.

Children begin to think symbolically when they play and this helps them develop their knowledge and learning patterns by educators trained in the Teacher Training Courses in India.

Creating interests in the classroom:

When creating interest areas in the classroom, careful attention should be paid to the size of the space for both the dramatic play area and the block area, as these interest areas are frequented by children. The teacher must also provide stimulating materials to enhance and entice children into play. Materials should include loose parts that are open-ended and empower creativity by providing children opportunities to think, plan, and carry out their play.

Supporting child development:

Play supports children’s sense of belonging, being and becoming. As you get the children involved in playful activities, as a teacher you facilitate and assist them to form social interactions that further enhance their development. Play supports a child’s physical, social, emotional and intellectual development as it provides children with the opportunity to:

• Practise physical skills
• Release energy
• Develop positive social skills and behaviour
• Learn about themselves and others
• Build self-esteem and confidence
• Learn and practise language
• Develop creativity, imagination and curiosity
• Pursue and develop their own interests
• Express their personality and uniqueness
• Explore materials, equipment and natural objects
• Develop problem-solving skills
• Develop independence and autonomy
• Develop relationships and concepts
• Make the connection between prior experiences and new learning.