CHAPTER 3:Fostering Creativity in Play

The Whole Child: Developmental Education for the Early Years

Tenth EditionPatricia WeissmanJoanne Hendrick

Weissman/Hendrick. The Whole Child, 10e. © 2014, 2010, 2006, 2001, 1996 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

3-2

Purposes of Play

•Play Fosters Physical Developmento Sensorimotor Skillso Fitness and Health

•Outdoor Play Connects Children to Nature and Their Environment

o Nature Feels Good and Inspireso Children with Disabilities

Weissman/Hendrick. The Whole Child, 10e. © 2014, 2010, 2006, 2001, 1996 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

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Purposes of Play

•Play Fosters Intellectual Developmento Symbolic Thoughto Acquisition of Information and Skillso Language Development

•Play Enhances Social Developmento Pretend Play: Dramatic and Sociodramatico Games with Rules

Weissman/Hendrick. The Whole Child, 10e. © 2014, 2010, 2006, 2001, 1996 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

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Purposes of Play• Play Contains Rich Emotional Values

o Expression of Feelingso Relieves Pressureo Mastery

• Play Develops the Creative Aspect of a Child's Personalityo Imaginationo Divergent Thinking

• Play is Deeply Satisfying to Children

Weissman/Hendrick. The Whole Child, 10e. © 2014, 2010, 2006, 2001, 1996 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

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Developmental Stages of Play

• Piaget's Stages of PlayoFunctional PlayoConstructive PlayoDramatic PlayoGames with Rules

Weissman/Hendrick. The Whole Child, 10e. © 2014, 2010, 2006, 2001, 1996 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

3-6

Developmental Stages of Play

• Parten's Stages of PlayoSolitary PlayoParallel PlayoAssociative PlayoCooperative Play

Weissman/Hendrick. The Whole Child, 10e. © 2014, 2010, 2006, 2001, 1996 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

3-7

Developmental Stages of Play

• Educational ImplicationsoOrganized, competitive games are developmentally inappropriate for preschool-aged children

oBe prepared for chaotic nature of children’s play

oUnderstand how play can enhance academic learning

Weissman/Hendrick. The Whole Child, 10e. © 2014, 2010, 2006, 2001, 1996 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

3-8

Factors Likely to Facilitate Creative Play

•Allow Children's Ideas to Develop/Avoid Dominating Play

oTeacher-Directed PlayoChild-Initiated Play with Teacher SupportoTeacher Intervention in Play

Weissman/Hendrick. The Whole Child, 10e. © 2014, 2010, 2006, 2001, 1996 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

3-9

Some Practical Ways to Stimulate and Extend Play

• Ask Questions• Make Suggestions• Provide Plenty of Time for Play• Use Language to Enrich Play• Make a Point to Include Children with Disabilities

Weissman/Hendrick. The Whole Child, 10e. © 2014, 2010, 2006, 2001, 1996 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

3-10

Some Practical Ways to Stimulate and Extend Play

• Cast Yourself as Child's Assistant in PlayoMove with the Child's PlayoPut Yourself in the Child's PositionoPut Children in Command of Play

Weissman/Hendrick. The Whole Child, 10e. © 2014, 2010, 2006, 2001, 1996 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

3-11

Some Practical Ways to Stimulate and Extend Play

• Actual Life Experience is Fundamental to Creative Play

• Offer Many Opportunities for Outdoor Play• Equipment is Important to Facilitate Play

oGet Equipment That Encourages ImaginationoWide Variety of Basic Kinds of EquipmentoChange Equipment FrequentlyoRearrange and Recombine Equipment Frequently

oStore Equipment in Convenient Places

Weissman/Hendrick. The Whole Child, 10e. © 2014, 2010, 2006, 2001, 1996 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

3-12

Some Practical Ways to Stimulate and Extend Play

• Keep Play Areas Safe and Attractive• A Final Thought– Children need plenty of freedom, time, and materials for their imaginative play

Weissman/Hendrick. The Whole Child, 10e. © 2014, 2010, 2006, 2001, 1996 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

3-13

Specific Activities to Encourage Creativity in Play

•Creative Dramatic Play – “Just Pretending”•Block Play

oSupply a Variety of BlocksoEmergent Perceptual-Motor SkillsoEmotionally Satisfying Block PlayoVisual-Spatial RelationshipsoIntellectual DevelopmentoBlocks Foster Creativity

Weissman/Hendrick. The Whole Child, 10e. © 2014, 2010, 2006, 2001, 1996 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

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Specific Activities to Encourage Creativity in Play

• Water Playo One of the freest, finest play opportunities we

can offer childreno Should be offered several times a week

• Mud and Sando Among most popular play activities, offering

messy, unstructured, tactile, sensual experiences

• Computer and Digital Screen Playo Make sure does not interfere with robust,

physical playo Ensure screen play is enriching and

developmentally appropriate