What Is Play?

If asked, I am sure that most people would associate the word ‘play’ with images of entertainment and amusement. Of course there are many words which could describe play but in general it is having fun either alone or with others.

Play is not something that only children are capable of, nor is it age related. Play is a way of unwinding and relaxing. Contrary to many people’s beliefs, children do not know how to play ‘naturally’. They are in fact taught how to play, either by the adults around them or the children they are with. It is therefore vital that you understand the importance of play and how to offer appropriate activities to stimulate the children in your care.

Different Types Of Play

Apart from the obvious indoor and outdoor differences of play there are many other variations. Play for the children in your care will usually take one of two forms:

Structured Play

This is when you have planned the play beforehand. You will have decided on the activity and thought about the learning outcomes you are hoping to achieve.

For example, it might take the form of introducing coloured building blocks. The child could be encouraged to develop colour recognition by building towers of perhaps all red bricks followed by all blue bricks.

Spontaneous Play

This is when the children are allowed to play freely. They decide for themselves which activity they are going to do and choose the props, if any, they are intending to use.

Spontaneous play could, for example, take the form of role play. You provide the child with the dressing-up clothes and necessary props and they use their imagination to decide who they are going to dress up as -and the play develops spontaneously.

Categories Of Play

In addition to being structured or spontaneous, play falls into different categories.

Manipulative Play

This includes activities such as:

• Jigsaw puzzles. A variety of puzzles should be provided with wooden pieces and board pieces in different shapes and sizes.

 

• Painting with a variety of instruments such as brushes, sponges, rollers, etc and with powder paint, ready-mixed paint and finger paint.

 

• Crayoning with a variety of instruments such as wax and pencil crayons, chalks and felt tip pens. Crayons and pencils should be of varying sizes.

 

• Cooking. Simple no-cook recipes can be enjoyed with even very young children. They can be encouraged to weigh, add and mix the ingredients.

 

• Construction toys and building bricks. A selection of construction toys of varying sizes should be provided and building bricks of an appropriate size, depending on the age of the child for example, Lego, Duplo or Sticklebricks.

 

Imaginative Play

This includes activities such as:

• Role play. Dressing-up clothes and props should be provided for the children to explore.

 

• Dolls and puppets. Finger puppets, dolls, prams, doll’s house and other small world toys could be provided.

 

• Painting and drawing. See previously. This activity is a valuable way for children to express themselves.

 

Creative Play

This includes activities such as:

• Painting and drawing. See previously.

 

• Play dough. This could be shop bought or home made and it is a good idea to provide baking cutters or other plastics templates.

 

• Model making. Children should be supplied with a variety of boxes, cardboard and other junk material to allow them to create their own models.

 

• Books/videos/music/rhymes. Books are a vital part of learning for children and it is a good idea to have a selection of books for children of all ages. These can vary from cloth books and board books for the very young through to references books and picture dictionaries for school-aged children. Videos are a way of relaxing and enjoying quiet time, and they can also be educational. Songs and rhymes are a good way of introducing music to children and you could add to this by providing simple instruments such as tambourines, maracas, drums etc. Actions can be taught to go with many rhymes and songs.

 

• Sand and water. You may prefer to limit this activity to outdoors but it is vital to realise the importance of this particular activity. Children love to explore sand and water. Provide them with a variety of instruments such as measuring jugs, sieves, scoops etc.

 

Outdoor Play And Physical Exercise

This includes activities such as:

• Obstacle courses. These can be planned either for outdoors or in. Obstacles such as cones, hoops, bean bags, skittles, etc can be arranged for the children to negotiate.

 

• Ride-on toys.

 

• Physical exercise such as jumping, hopping, skipping, etc. Older children can be encouraged to play games of football, tennis, etc.

 

The above is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to providing play and activities for children and you will discover many alternatives and additions as your childminding career progresses.

It is important to remember that, although you must provide a good selection of appropriate toys and plan activities to suit the children, you are the best toy the children can have! Children learn from the adults around them and you must give the appropriate amount of time and attention that each individual child needs.