Deck 4: Observing Children Through the Lens of Play

Question 1

What is special about children's play? Recall a baby or child you have seen playing. What were they doing and what do you think they got out of this?

Answer 1

Children play to explore and learn about the world around them. Young children predominantly use their senses to gain information about objects and experiences. This exploration provides children with knowledge as well as the satisfaction of exploring items and using them in many different ways.

Question 2

What is your reaction to the phrase "Playing is learning"? When you look at children playing do you see learning, or something else?

Answer 2

At first, when you look at children playing, you may just see that-playing. However upon deeper reflection and observation, you will soon learn that playing is the child's task during childhood. Play is their vehicle to explore the world and to learn about objects, people, places and events in their lives.

Question 3

Why might it be challenging to observe and record children's play in a useful way?

Answer 3

There are many reasons for this. Observation is a skill that needs to be learnt and practiced in order for it to be used in the most advantageous way possible. It can be complicated to choose which behaviour(s) to choose to observe. It can also be hard to determine when and where to observe children.

Question 4

Scaffolding is a sign of the ability of make mental representations.

Question 5

Play is the work of childhood.

Question 6

Associative play is

A) acting separately unable or unwilling to engage in play with others
B) noticing children playing, mimicking the play
C) acting along, following their own imagination
D) watching the play of others
E) involves negotiation of roles and the content of the play

Question 7

Pretend play

A) involves negotiation of roles
B) involves role playing
C) describes observing the play of others
D) spontaneous activity involving imagination, imitation and make believe
E) consists of engaging in play alongside of another child

Question 8

These three concepts define play

A) intrinsically motivated, self-chosen, rigid
B) absorbing, active, spontaneous
C) symbolic, adult directed, enjoyable
D) enjoyable, intrinsically motivated, taught
E) spontaneous, manipulating ideas, unimportant

Question 9

Choose another student and create a debate based on this statement: Child-directed play provides more developmental opportunities for growth than adult-directed play. Each participant will have 5 minutes to convince the audience of their point of view, and will have one minute of rebuttal.
Child-directed: voice of the child is heard, sees the child as competent, protects the nature of play
Adult directed: scaffolded learning, teacher knows best, structured learning is best, adults take control of the experiences, relationship based learning, play partnership