Jan Amos Comenius believed that children learn best through hands-on experiences and play. He thought play was important for learning skills that children will use later in life. He also emphasized making learning fun and interesting for children through movement, exercises, and real-world activities. Teachers should help children understand rules by involving them in planning activities that match their interests.

1. Jan Amos Comenius
By phoebe and Kayleigh

2. Brief description of the theory
• He believed that children learn through the senses and
through real, first hand experiences.
• He thought that teachers should try to make learning
interesting and enjoyable, and that learning by doing
and helping children to play was part of this.
• He thought play was important because what children
learnt through their play they would use in later life.
• He emphasised movement and exercise; he believed
that giving children interesting, real and play
experiences was key to education and that children
should understand the reason for rules.

3. How theory relates to play?
• This theory relates to play as children are naturally curious,
therefore by taking part in first hand experiences they are
able to ask questions and get a feel for the unfamiliar play
that they are experiencing.
• As he believed that teachers should make learning
interesting and enjoyable it has been taken into settings as
practitioners are now including the children in activities to
suit their interests, making the activities fun for each and
every child.
• In each setting there are rules which should be followed. By
having these rules in place children are learning what's
right and wrong from a young age, which they will carry
into their life.

4. Positives and negatives
Positives Negatives
Children are able to receive
first hand experiences
No all children enjoy messy
or hands on play therefore
it doesn’t suit all children.
Children are now included
in the planning of activities
and their interests are
taken into consideration
Children don’t know how
to like first hand experience
to real life.
Children are experiencing a
fun and enjoyable time at
school
Some children may not be
able to take part in such
extreme activities
therefore may feel
excluded.

5. Examples of theory in practice
• When we were on placement golden rules were clearly
mounted on a wall so all children could see them. The were
regularly reminded of these rules and how important it was to
follow them.
• Observations were regularly taken so the practitioners were
able see the children's interests, their dislikes and their strong
and week areas of development. So they can plan activities
suited to that child which will allow them to further their
development as well as ensuring the children have fun.
• Also on placement they done free flow this allowed the
children free rein of the reception area as well as outside in
the garden. This allowed the children to chose what they
wanted to do in order to have a fun and enjoyable afternoon.