THE ROLE OF PLAY IN

CONSTRUCTIVIST EARLY
CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Role of play in constructivist
ECE
Concept of play
 Play refer to the range of voluntary,
intrinsically motivated activities done for
recreational pleasure and enjoyment.
 Also , Play refers to the activities
performed for self-amusement that have
behavioral, social, and psychomotor
rewards. It is enjoyable and spontaneous.

Concept cont….
Role of play in constructivist
ECE
 For example National Association for the
Education of Young Children support the
constructivist view of play is critically
important for children's development and
education, as essential when a child is
initiated, directed and facilitated.

Cont….
 Role of play in
constructivist ECE
 TYPES OF PLAY IN CONSTRUCTIVIST ECE
 Unoccupied play
 Parallel play
 Associative play
 Cooperative play
 Independent or solitary
 Onlooker play
 Type of play in
constructivist ECE

UNOCCUPIED PLAY

 Defined this as a child not engaged in play.

But you could think of this as the “infancy” of
play. Here, your baby or toddler creatively
moves their body with no purpose other than
it feels good and interesting.
Role of play in constructivist
ECE

Cont….
 INDEPENDENT PLAY
 This is when your child plays alone, with little
to no reference to what other kids or adults
are doing.
Type of play in
constructivist ECE
Type of Play constructivist
ECE
 ONLOOKER PLAY
 This is when your child observes the play of
other children, while not actually playing
themselves.
Type of play in
constructivist in ECE
 PARALLEL PLAY
 Though they may use the same toys, your
child plays beside, rather than with, other
children.
Type of play in
constructivist ECE
 ASSOCIATIVE PLAY
 Here, your child plays with other children, but
the kids do not organize their play toward a
common goal.
Type of play in
constructivist ECE
 COOPERATIVE PLAY
 Here you can see the beginning of teamwork.
Your kid plays with others for a common
purpose.
Role of play in constructivist
ECE
CHARACTERISTICS OF PLAY
According to Vague Characterization of play is
characterized as follows:-
i. Play as active ,during active play children
use their bodies and mind by interacting
with the environment
ii. Play should involve manipulation of
concrete objects

Cont….
Role of play in constructivist
ECE
iii. Play is interesting, when children play they
should be enjoying themselves

iv. Play is child work ,play is fun of work when

children doing different activities

Cont….
Role of play in constructivist
ECE
ROLES OF PLAY IN CONSTRUCTIVIST ECE
 Symbolic play is more reflective of reality in
direction of constructive activity, eg. A child
who pretends that a piece of wood is a boat
may latter real make a boat replica.

Cont….
Role of play in constructivist
ECE
 Play has a role of developing abstract
(reasoning)
 Develop children's self regulation skills eg.
Problem solving, persistence
 To understand the world they live in.

Cont….
Role of play in constructivist
ECE
 Promoting both mental and social abilities
 Facilitate motivation.

Cont….
Role of play in constructivist
ECE
I. Criticisms of play (Puritan view)
 Play is aimless (Fein & Rivkin, 1986)
 Play as little importance (Montessori, 1956)
 Play as irrational
 Play as the province of the devil (Puritan)

Cont….
CONCLUSION

 Therefore play is very important to the

development of children, simply because
through play enable child to grow items of
cognitive, affective and motor skills, so both
parents and care giver should provide
support to the children in all aspects in order
to stimulate the development of
children.....!!!!!
BYE-BYE