Play in the Early Years

    Play is a very important part of childhood, and one of which many people reminisce about. Yet there is much debate with academics and in politics about the value of play within the classroom setting, as play is often wrongly associated with not giving the child the ability to learn.

   On one hand, people agree that play assists with a child's learning, and 'allows children to be at their best' (Hirsh-Pasek, Golinkoff, Singer, 2006, p.7). Both individual and group play is important, as group play would assist with communication skills, without the child actually realising it. Independent play would involve skills such as problem solving. These skills that are learnt through play are both significant to a child's development, as they are both crucial in later life.

   Beckley, (2014, p.30) found that play can be 'motivating and stimulating' in the context of learning. Therefore, play in the classroom would assist with learning as it would be able to motivate the children to learn and 

   On the other hand, there are critiques of engaging play within the education setting as it is today. For example, Clarke (1991, cited in Chitty, 2009, p.222) stated that schools were 'too play centred...there is a lot of the sticking together of egg boxes and playing in the sand'. This statement is still relevant today, as the way in which children play is the same, just with advances in technology in over twenty years has changed what children play with. Also, as suggested by Moyles (2010, p3) a problem lies with parents and academics that learning is more often than not been associated with 'formal lessons', and not with play.
   The Welsh Government have introduced into the curriculum for children aged 3 to 7 a Foundation Phase. Children in the foundation stage, because of the introduction of this by the Welsh Government learn through play. Play is natural for children and as the Welsh Government have observed, is valuable within the classroom environment to encourage learning and engage each individual in the lesson.
   

My Experience of Play

 From experience personally, and as an adult witnessing play in a primary school, play is a very important part of childhood and in the classroom setting. I found it rewarding to see children get excited about play, and what they can learn from certain aspects of it, especially if it was integrated within lessons. Play gives the pupils a chance to be involved with other children, working in groups, therefore learning essential skills such as communication skills and problem solving. They enjoyed play and when it is associated with work, the children were even more interested and engaged within the learning setting. 

Beckley, P. (2014) ‘Approaches in the early years: issues and reflections’, in Curtis et al (eds.) Education Studies: An Issue Based Approach. 3^rd edn. London: Sage, pp. 25-35

Chitty, C. (2009) Education Policy in Britain. 2^nd edn. London: Palgrave

Hirsh-Pasek, K, Golinkoff, R and Singer, D. (2006) Play= Learning: How Play Motivates and Enhances Children’s Cognitive and Social-emotional Growth. Oxford: Oxford University Press. EBook collection: EBSCOhost [Online]. Available at: http://web.a.ebscohost.com.v-ezproxy.smu.ac.uk/ehost/ebookviewer/ebook/bmxlYmtfXzE2NzczOV9fQU41?sid=0822b176-1c95-49dc-b079-46a08b22fb58@sessionmgr4002&vid=0&format=EB&lpid=lp_3&rid=0 (Accessed: 29/11/2014)

Moyles, J. (ed) (2010) The Excellence of Play. 3^rd ed. Maidenhead: Open University Press. EBook collection: dawsonera [Online]. Available at: https://www-dawsonera-com.v-ezproxy.smu.ac.uk/readonline/9780335240951/startPage/6 (Accessed: 03/12/2014)