What is self-directed play?
• Freely Chosen
• Personally directed
• Intrinsically motivated
• Goalless.
• Children choose what
they do
• Children choose how
they do it
• Children choose why
they do it
• They do it for no
external goal or
reward.
Why do children play?
• To learn about themselves, the people around them and their
physical environment.
• Discover and make sense of their world in order to survive in it.
• Develop social, physical, intellectual and creative skills.
• It gives them pleasure and they can release physical and
emotional energy.
The Benefits of Play
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Sense of freedom
Control of their own environment
Development of skills
Express their emotions
Exploration of their own limits
Exploration of their own identity
Growth of independence
Growth of self - esteem and confidence
Potential of self expression
Respect for other children and young people
Through play children learn what no one else can teach them.
Playworkers should:
• Support children’s play not direct or contol
it
• create and resource an appropriate human
environment
• create and resource an appropriate physical
environment
• respond to play cues
• advocate children’s play to adults
Play environments should
provide opportunities for:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
A varied and interesting physical environment.
Challenge in relation to the physical environment
playing with the natural elements
movement
manipulating natural and fabricated materials
stimulation of the five senses
experiencing changes in the natural and built environment
social interactions
playing with identity
experiencing a range of emotions
An effectivie play space
• Pays attention to and supports the variety of feelings and
moods children may bring with them or have during play
• Has particular spaces or areas or resources that at different
times encourage experiences or expression of a range of
emotions
• Seeks to develop via diverse means an overall feeling and
atmosphere of welcome, acceptance, freedom and
playfulness.
• Supports childrens feelings and moods during play and
uses space, lighting, colour, sounds, materials accordingly.
Creating an affective play space
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Lighting
Music
Images
Aroma
layout
Spaces
Familiarity
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Comfort factors
Sensory stuff
Elements
Resources and loose parts
Attitudes
Behaviour
Noise/sound level
Play spaces
• Permanent
• play that can not be moved e.g climbing
frame
• Transient
• play that can be moved e.g den making
• For physical play
• Chase, rough and tumble, football
• For affective play
• Provides for emotions, feelings, e.g music,
lighting
Mood descripitors
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Happy
Independent
Confident
Altruistic
Trusting
Balanced
Active or immeresed
At ease
Playwork Occupational Standards training days 2005