EDUC 11582: Foundations of a Play-Based Education

Why is Play important

to the Holistic
Development of a
Child?
Krisha Aguja
 Table Of Contents

Play UNCRN The Seven Domains

01 What is play?
02 What are a child’s
rights? 03 Developmental
domains

Stages of Play Activities

04 Stages each child

experiences 05 Activities that
encourage
development
01
Play
What is play?
 What is play?
There is no one definition of play. Play differs from each
individual child. The one thing that is in common to each
child’s own definition of play, is that it’s a learning process
02UNCRN
UN Convention on The
Rights of The Child
UN CONVENTION ON THE
RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
In 1989, the United Nation approved the
“convention on the rights of the child” and
in 1991, Canada accepted and agreed to
comply with the articles of the treaty. This
treaty ensures every child their basic
rights such as the right to play, express
themselves, be protected and feel safe.
Failure to apprehend results in
consequences to the guardian of the
child.
 03
The Seven Domains
of Development
What are The Seven Domains of Development?

LANGUAGE COGNITIVE GROSS FINE MOTOR

MOTOR

SELF-HELP/ SOCIAL/ SPIRITUAL/

ADAPTIVE EMOTIONAL MORAL
 What do each of The Seven Domains of
Early-Childhood Development mean?
The Seven Domains of Early-Childhood Development are:
1. Language - learning the alphabet, writing and speaking
2. Cognitive - simple math, how children problem solve and
imagine
3. Gross Motor - the ability to use larger muscles,whole body
movements
4. Fine Motor - the ability to use smaller muscles, picking up
small objects
5. Self-Help/Adaptive - learning to be independent
6. Social/Emotional - build relationships, learn and express
emotions
7. Spiritual/Moral - learning to love and obey God
How is play beneficial to
a child's development?
Play is beneficial to a child because it supports all
areas of development. Children are naturally curious
about their surroundings because they have an urge
to be imaginative and to explore. As adults we learn
differently than children, they learn and develop by
what interests them in a hands-on environment. By
giving children the support and materials they need
to express themselves, the more curious and
knowledgeable they become. Therefore the more
they learn. Jean Piaget believed adults facilitate the
process of hands-on play experiences and that
children create knowledge by being in environments
that encourage exploration rather than adults
providing it (Dietze & Kashin, 2019)
“Play is the beginning of knowledge”

—George Dorsey
 04
Stages of Play
Stages each child
experiences
 Stages of Play

1
The five stages of play are vital because it’s a Onlooker Play
process in which children learn new skills The child observes others playing but
that develop as they get older and feel more
comfortable within their surroundings.
does not participate

Solitary Play
The child plays alone but is
uninterested in playing with others
2 3 Parallel Play
The child plays beside peers but
doesn’t engage with others

Associative Play
The child begins to share materials
but still plays independently
4 5 Cooperative Play
The child participates in group
activities because they all have a
common goal
 Stages of Play
As children get older, the more knowledgeable
they become. For example, the different stages
of play support the developing domains
because during the cooperative stage of play a
child’s cognitive and social skills develop due to
the fact they are working with each other to
solve a problem.
 05Activities
Activities that encourage
development

Activities that support the seven domains of early-childhood
Cash Registers
Cognitive Development
● Counting money and
handing back change is a
form of problem solving
Speech and Language Skills
● Talking to “customers” and
building social relationships
Fine Motor Skills
● Picking up money, swiping a
card, pressing on number
keys uses small muscles
Activities
development
“The Giving Tree” book
Social and Emotional Skills
● Theme: Selflessness
● The boy and tree are
metaphors for a relationship
between a parent and child
● Asking the child what they
learned from the book builds
social relationships
Fine Motor Skills
● Asking the child to follow
along and turn the page uses
small muscles
“The Carrot Seed” book
Social and Emotional Skills
● Theme: Stand up for
what you believe in
despite what others
think
● Teaches children
about individuality
● Builds their
personality
Thank You for your time!
Stay safe <3