Learning developments enhanced while using playdough

Motor Skill Development

• Using play dough helps a child practice using certain physical skills with the hands when they manipulate the dough with their fingers. Children can practice skills such as pinching, squeezing or poking while they play with the dough.

Cognitive Development

• Using play dough helps a child practice using imagination and other cognitive abilities such imitation, symbolism and problem solving. This helps the child learn more about his environment as he makes and mimics everyday objects with the play dough.

Emotional Development

• Using play dough may help a child to calm down when frustrated or angry. Holding and squeezing the play dough can produce a calming effect on the child and is useful for teaching anger management skills. Additionally, children may feel more comfortable expressing themselves in other ways while their hands are busy.

Social Development

• Using play dough may help a child develop social skills as she plays along with other children with the dough. Additionally, making play dough is an opportunity for a child to practice cooperation and sharing with a caregiver.

Construction and block play

Construction is similar to block play, except that all the pieces connect with eachother, whereas blocks balance. In class we have a variety of these types of tools available for the children to play and learn with.

There are many different areas of children's development that are promoted during these types of play.

Personal, social and emotional development:

• Children are interested, excited and motivated to learn
• try out new ideas and activities
• share and take turns
• build good relationships with other children and adults

Communication, language and literacy:

• talk as they build
• listen to eachother
• make comments and ask questions
• increasy vocabulary

Knowledge and understanding of the world:

• find out about materials foam, plastic, wooden etc
• learning building and constructing

Mathematical development:

• they develop mathematical language such as : big, small, heavy, light
• solve practical problems -- is this tower too tall?
• develop space awareness

Physical development:

• use blocks with confidence and safety
• balance blocks with increasing control
• develop hand - eye co-ordination

Creative development:

• explore shape, forn, texture and space of blocks and construction toys
• use senses to explore movement
• use their imagination to construct

Small world play

Small world play

Personal, social and emotional development:

• children are intersted, excited and motivated to learn
• they confidently play and try out new ideas
• concentrate and show a range of feeling as they create play scenarios
• take turns and share
• make good relationships with others
• show understanding of how other people feel through the people in their play stories

Communication, language and literacy:

• enjoy talking and listening to other children as they play
• enjoy making up their own stories and re-tell some stories that they already know as they play with small world toys
• they extend their vocabulary

Physical development:

• manipulate materials and objects by picking up, releasing, arranging and posting them
• use their small world toys in a co-ordinated way with fine-motor skills

Mathematical development :

• show an interest in space and shape by making arrangements with objects
• use size language such as big and little
• use words about position in space - next to , behind etc
• solver practical problems eg - the toy falls over, so let's rest it agaisnt the house

Knowledge and understanding of the world:

• observe, find out about and identify features in the place they live and their natural natural world
• find out about small world materials and see how things work and can be changed
• show curiosity, observe and manipulate objects

Creative development:

• make play scenarios, express ideas, feelings and thoughts
• engage in imaginative and role play based on their own experiences
• create different stories alone and with others

Painting and Drawing

Painting and Drawing

Personal, social and emotional development:

• children find out how to use different tools such as crayons, pens, coloured pencils, brushes and mostly their hands!
• take turns and share
• rescpect what other children draw or paint
• choose what tehy want to draw or paint
• feel proud of their art

Communication, language and literacy:

• enjoy talking about their art
• learn new words about drawing and painting
• show interest about having their name written on their drawing

Physical development:

• use art tools confidently and safely
• develop their fine-motor skills -- learn how to hold tools with proper control
• become aware of the space they need when drawing or painting

Mathematical development :

• use number ideas in their drawings
• make patterns and learn to sequence them
• learn how to make shapes

Knowledge and understanding of the world:

• they investigate paints and different materials
• observe objects and living things more closely to decide what and how they will draw

Creative development:

• explore colour, texture and shape, form and space in paintings and drawings
• respond to how paint feels (finger and hand painting)
• use their imagination to create whatever they wish

Home corner and technology corner

Home corner and technology corner

Physical development:

• use equipment with more co-ordination and control
• stir the pot, turn knobs, wash plates - manipulate things better
• use a range of materials -- cuttlery, pans etc.

Mathematical development :

• use number ideas such four places at the table
• recognize shapes - square table, circle plate
• mathematical concepts - empty, full etc

Knowledge and understanding of the world:

• they find out about different materials - how plastic snaps or bends etc
• choose utensils - pan for frying, spoon for eating etc

Creative development:

• they express and communicate ideas, thoughts and feelings
• use a range of objects in the home area, sometimes making believe they are something else
• role play with others or on their own
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Personal, social and emotional development:
  • children are intersted, excited and motivated to learn
  • they confidently play and try out new ideas
  • concentrate and have play scenarios of their own
  • take turns and share
  • make good relationships with others
    
    
  Communication, language and literacy:
  • enjoy talking and listening to other children as they play
  • enjoy making stories and acting out the ones they know
  • think about ideas, feelings and events
  • learn new words-- cup, plate, pot, saucepan etc