Task 2: Chapter on play -Early Childhood studies.

In this essay, I will be summarizing chapter 3.1 from the Early year’s educator book. It explores the values of play in early years and how it impacts children’s development in the care setting. I was influenced by this chapter as I wanted to understand how the play is adjusted in children’s development in childhood settings.

Play for a child is an essential role that takes part in their childhood. It gives them a chance to follow their ‘own ideas and interests, in their own way and for their own reasons’. Likewise, play is an aspect during childhood that they discover and learn different new things, it expands their mind and helps them understand places, people, an environment that surrounds them and advancement in their local area and community (Meggit, 2014).

Play can give an opportunity for a child to develop their cognitive development in terms of thinking and learning as they grow. Involvement in play is created in their minds (pretend play or make-believe) (Meggit, 2014). For example, in a setting the home corner area which is based on real daily life skills can enhance intellectual and abstract thinking, as if playing a game of serving food to children around a table, they can be using counting skills as they will be seeing how many plates they need (Meggit, 2014).This further can give them the confidence to learn to share ideas with other children and solve complications as a team (Meggit, 2014).

Social interaction is more visibly seen in children when they are participating in play and doing regular activities in a care setting (Meggit, 2014). There are more opportunities for children to interact during children’s play. As usual physical play outside and activities can be done as a group, or children can take part in exercise classes (football, dancing, yoga etc.). This further is a development in their communication with other children, they will be developing social skills and improving confidence (Meggit, 2014). This can contribute and lead to the growth of friendship and close attachment to peers. Social interaction in play can also be beneficial to a child as they could start to share good practice with others in play routines and regular physical activities among other children, for example, if a parent or carer does not lead a healthy lifestyle and the child does huge amounts of physical activities, it can encourage the parents to take part in the routines itself, this could also enhance a better well-being for the child as well as the parent (Meggit, 2014).

Reference For Task 2:

Meggit,T. (2014). Understand the value of play in early years. In: Halder, S Early years Educator. 3rd ed. London: Pasha, S. 248-264.