CD 30
CHAPTER 4
PLAY AND EXPLORATION
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0 to 3 play is exploration. Develop skills and learn concepts. Develop literacy skills
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Through play children learn: self-direction, power, discovery, pursue special interests, make
choices. Play involves movement and the use of body and brain. Interaction among children.
Seven Factors that Support Play and Exploration in Babies
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1. Being an active participant in their routines
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2. Adult observing and understanding what baby needs
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3. Consistency including clearly defined limits
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4. Basic Trust as baby initiates, explores, and self-learns
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5. Safe, cognitively challenging, and emotionally nurturing environments
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6. Uninterrupted Play at their own pace
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7. Freedom to explore/interact with objects and other babies
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Physical environment:
indoor and outdoor equipment, health and safety check, safe and interesting materials by age of
children, developmentally age appropriate activity, group size, accommodations for special
needs.
Setting Up the Environment for Play
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1. Play space separate from caregiving areas.
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2. Everything in the play space is touchable.
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3. Provide fine and gross motor experiences.
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4. Provide soft and hard materials and
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5. Provide soft and hard play surfaces.
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6. Combine toys and materials.
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7. Enough number of toys for all children.
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8. Provide the right number of choices.
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Adults as facilitators of play
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Adults as part of the play experiences
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Adults as supporting problem solving
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Adults observing to promote learning
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Adults as participants in the want-nothing mode
Adult Roles in Infant-Toddler Play
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1. Encourage interactions and step back
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2. Practice selective intervention
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3. Provide time, space, and materials
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4. Remain available but do not interrupt
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5. Provide safety
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6. Support problem solving
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7. Provide scaffolding
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8. Observe
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Overstimulation vs. understimulation: balance play happenings
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Free choices
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Observation of children to determine setting of play environment
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Development IN TIME, not on time