ASSESSMENT- 3:

Table of Contents
JOURNAL PLAY:......................................................................................................................... 2
Play and the language of science:..............................................................................................2
Play and the language of maths..................................................................................................3
Play and the language of movement:.........................................................................................4
Play and the language of technology:........................................................................................ 5
The importance of play for wellbeing and health:......................................................................6
How this unit has challenged your thinking about early childhood education:..........................7
References..................................................................................................................................... 9

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JOURNAL PLAY:

Playing is the best way to connect with place, playing spaces, children, educators and materials
that support children to build different types of skills such as language of science, maths,
movement, technology, health and wellbeing and so on (Tekyi-Arhin, 2023). It enhanced
children to build confident in learning through play. Some of them are shortly explained in
below:

Play and the language of science:

The experiences vividly demonstrated on play through the language of science. It
promotes children engagement and helps child to develop high order thinking with the
abilities to solve the problems. the recording of experiences or documenting child agency
while playing with exploration of scientific concepts like cause and effect, observation,
experiment and to the natural world. Some of the playing activities includes growing
plant, playing with mud, sand, stones and pebbles and knowing different shape, size and
texture as well as color of the natural environment (Short et al., 2020). further, running,
jumping, play fighting and so on enhanced to improves social skills and inhibition.

In addition, the activities related with science enhanced with the recognition and inquiry
where the question raised out of interest and manifested through play. It promotes
children thinking capacity and explore with different ideas fostering social interaction
through mutual interest. For example- when a child play with static electricity like static
cling through with balloons, she will discover vocabulary through introducing by parents
or teachers with meaningful experiences to attach with the terms. It supports children to
develop hypothesis, experiments and investigation, solve problems from multiple
possibilities through wonder and curiosity through play (Letourneau & Sobel, 2020).

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(https://dreamstime.com) (https://alamy.com)

Play and the language of maths

The experiences of mathematical play reinforce with the knowledges and supports
children to solve future problems of mathematical activities. children become creative as
they construct several solutions. It includes the activities of counting, sorting, patterning,
shaping, measurements, and solving problems (Slot et al., 2020). It enhanced children to
know the size of blocks, understanding of weight and dimensions, tidying with toys,
developed mathematical languages such as first, second and third, colour name, largest
and smallest and so on. It supports children to include both exploring exciting new
concepts and finding out new interesting things along with it. It is an imaginative fun
with the opposite ends of the spectrum of rules and equations

In addition, the activities of math such as large activities trays include exploration of
children in many fields like explore with the patterns, sequences, compare quantities as
per identical objects and know the range of large activity tray ideas, it is more creative as
it enhanced children to k now the shape and sizes of trays (Espinas & Fuchs, 2022). It is a
mathematical logic where children will able to count the number of small trays and large
trays differently expressing addition and deduction of trays with concision, precision and
unambiguity

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 (https://st-anthonys.bromley.sch.uk) (https://ebay.co.uk)

From the above picture of play, it is clearly seen that play supports to develop positive
attitudes to mathematics with open thinking, logically and clearly in mathematics with
confidence and independence (Miller et al., 2023). The use of mathematical vocabulary
enhanced and related with time tables like solving problems with addition, subtraction,
multiplication and division. It enhanced with an understanding on the importance of
mathematics in everyday life.

Play and the language of movement:

It is one of the first language of early childhood and first form of communication that will
be related to outside world. It supports engagement of the children through fundamental
physical skills that are provided to children as the first touch, giggle, step and smile. It is
good way of communication where child interact, react, move body parts and develop
communication languages with various modes of movement. It prioritized brain
functions, heartbeat, breathing and digestion of child. in early childhood education, child
are observed with the movement of physical development that focused on the brain rather
than the body (Nery et al., 2023).

In addition, some of the physical activities in early years are open end play with
equipment, teaching child to mop, sweep, tidy and clean, encouraging them to participate
in the activity of climbing frame, providing wide range of locomotor equipment, hoops,
ribbons, balance bikes, wobble boards, body boards and etc, making children to move
their body parts through dancing on the floor spaces with different types of music and so

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 on. It shapes words, position or direction as per the topic of interest (Foweather et al.,
2021). All the activities are linked with the EYLF that support children to learn, grow ad
understanding.

(https://twinkl.co.ld)
The set of movement reflected an educator to make children to understand the movement
and play in early childhood education.

Play and the language of technology:

As per the present situations, playing with modern technology enhanced with the
understanding where the children learn to play with, explore and use digital technologies
in much of the same way. It includes documentation of playing experiences involving
digital tools, codes and exploring technologies devices. It shows that children can easily
adjust as per the situations with the improved technologies. The use of different types of
learning videos, audios, text in real time supports children to speak, learn, with the
targeted languages. children easily collaborate with the modern technologies that support
in the development of child learning and skills including fine motor skills, letter, number,
shape, colour, recognition, eye hand coordination, reading, writing, planning, problem
solving and so on.

For example- virtual reality game enhanced child to know the present conditions of the
physical world. They developed keen interest to connect between physical toy and game
through digital era (Massaroni et al., 2023). Further, it enhanced with the physical play

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 where children learnt rhymes, making toys, communication skills through smart phones
play. It enhanced with promoting physical actions like dancing, caricature, gaming and so
on that are connected with the internet. it supports children to explore and connected to
outer world linking to learning outcomes 2.

(https://axcultures.com) (https://abc.net.au)

The use of new improved technology enhanced to develop child mind in the process of
learning through internet platforms and supports in development of languages.

The importance of play for wellbeing and health:

Play in early age is an important aspect in children life. It improved cognitive
development including physical, social, emotional well- being. According to Reggio
Emilia, it enriches with visual experiences where children learn to explore through
demonstration rather than copying others. It enhanced with colours, lights, design,
sufficient spaces where child can easily interact and explore in a creative way. The theory
states that play is the self- expression where children learn bests through active role play
in learning with material resources (Prins et al., 2022). the children explored, observed
and learned through understanding and become aware of their own thoughts, ideas and
experiences. Plays allowed children to use their creativity which is one of the important
in the process of development in imagination, dexterity, physical cognitive and emotional
strength. It helps to develop healthy brain at early ages where the children engaged and
interacted with the world around them. Further, playing allows peer interactions which is
one of the important components of social and emotional wellbeing. While reflecting
memory, I still remember one child who was of 3 years old was playing alone with
colours and paper where he recognized his own emotional, feelings and thoughts was
well as to control them in comfort ways.

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 (https://gjrinternationalschool.edu.in) (https://cornhill.aberdeen.sch.uk)

Play supports children to learn and develop. It helps to build self- worth and sense of
identity. Play is an integral part of children in early years foundation and it supports in
learning journey with the development og language skills, emotions, creativity and social
skills. it nurture the imagination and sense of adventure where child learnt essential skills
like solving problems, working with others, sharing and so on.

How this unit has challenged your thinking about early childhood education:
As an educator, in reflection of all the activities, I linked with various theory that are
theory of Piaget, Vygotsky, Montessori, Froebel, Reggio Emilia approach and so on that
set an idea of play with the surroundings supports children to improved cognitive
development including physical, emotional and social development. early childhood
education is a critical way to shape children’s cognitive, social and emotional
development where the teacher had to face various challenges including inadequate
funding, shortages of teachers and limitations of training (Butcher et al., 2023). The
challenges can significantly impact on the children overall wellbeing and success in
future.

The biggest challenges is to managed children and make them to participate or engaged
in the activities that support child to learn and grow. The learning and understanding of
children behavior and their interest with flexibility challenges entrust between child and
educator. The boundaries limits with the child patience and learning spaces consists with
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new unique experiences to invest and embrace the trends, leveraging technology and
fostering continued research and discussion. It challenged my thinking with new and
collaborative way to understand the child nature and behavior (Richter et al., 2017). It
insights with the institutional practices, evaluation of activities and long term learning
outcomes in early childhood education.

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References
Butcher, M. B., Haakenstad, M. K., Noonan, C. J., & Fyfe-Johnson, A. L. (2023). Identifying
Challenges and Solutions to Early Childhood Education and the Perceived Importance of
Outdoor Time: A Mixed Methods Approach in a Socioeconomically Diverse Population.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(24).
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20247166
Espinas, D. R., & Fuchs, L. S. (2022). The Effects of Language Instruction on Math
Development. Child Development Perspectives, 16(2), 69–75.
https://doi.org/10.1111/cdep.12444
Foweather, L., Crotti, M., Foulkes, J. D., O’Dwyer, M. V, Utesch, T., Knowles, Z. R., Fairclough,
S. J., Ridgers, N. D., & Stratton, G. (2021). Foundational Movement Skills and Play
Behaviors during Recess among Preschool Children: A Compositional Analysis. Children
(Basel, Switzerland), 8(7). https://doi.org/10.3390/children8070543
Letourneau, S. M., & Sobel, D. M. (2020). Children’s descriptions of playing and learning as
related processes. PloS One, 15(4), e0230588. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0230588
Massaroni, V., Delle Donne, V., Marra, C., Arcangeli, V., & Chieffo, D. P. R. (2023). The
Relationship between Language and Technology: How Screen Time Affects Language
Development in Early Life-A Systematic Review. Brain Sciences, 14(1).
https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci14010027
Miller, P., Elliott, L. E., Podvysotska, T., Ptak, C., Duong, S., Fox, D., Coulanges, L., Libertus,
M., Bachman, H. J., & Votruba-Drzal, E. (2023). Toddler home math environment:
Triangulating multi-method assessments in a U.S. Sample. Frontiers in Psychology, 14,
1105569. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1105569
Nery, M., Sequeira, I., Neto, C., & Rosado, A. (2023). Movement, Play, and Games-An Essay
about Youth Sports and Its Benefits for Human Development. Healthcare (Basel,
Switzerland), 11(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11040493
Prins, J., van der Wilt, F., van der Veen, C., & Hovinga, D. (2022). Nature play in early
childhood education: A systematic review and meta ethnography of qualitative research. In
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Richter, L. M., Daelmans, B., Lombardi, J., Heymann, J., Boo, F. L., Behrman, J. R., Lu, C.,
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to scale up for early childhood development. Lancet (London, England), 389(10064), 103–
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Short, E. J., Schindler, R. C., Obeid, R., Noeder, M. M., Hlavaty, L. E., Gross, S. I., Lewis, B.,
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Slot, P. L., Bleses, D., & Jensen, P. (2020). Infants’ and Toddlers’ Language, Math and Socio-
Emotional Development: Evidence for Reciprocal Relations and Differential Gender and
Age Effects. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 580297.
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Tekyi-Arhin, O. (2023). THE IMPORTANCE OF PLAY-BASED LEARNING IN EARLY
CHILDHOOD EDUCATION BY OLIVER TEKYI-ARHIN.
https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.35564.64643

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