Play is important for children's development as it helps them learn and build skills in both fun and absorbing ways. Through play, children can develop self-worth, language skills, creativity, social skills, problem solving, and more. Specifically, playing with sand and water helps children develop physically, mentally, and emotionally as it encourages exploration, experimentation, and the practice of early math and science skills. Role playing and outdoor play also provide opportunities for building confidence, communication, and physical skills while stimulating children's imaginations.

1. Tuesday 26th January 2021
Nikki South- Family Learning Tutor

2. Write down what you think play is and share.

3.  Play is one of the main ways in which children
learn and develop. It helps to build self worth
by giving a child a sense of his or her own
abilities and to feel good about themselves.
Because it’s fun, children often become very
absorbed in what they are doing.
Why do children play so much in the first year of school?
https://home.oxfordowl.co.uk/at-school/reception-at-
primary-school/what-to-expect-in-reception-age-4-5/

4.  Play is very important to a child's
development, it is an integral part of a child's
Early Years Foundation Stage and supports
their learning journey too. Young children can
develop many skills through the power of play.
They may develop their language skills,
emotions, creativity and social skills. Play helps
to nurture imagination and give a child a sense
of adventure. Through this, they can learn
essential skills such as problem solving,
working with others, sharing and much more.

5.  https://moodle.lincsglobal.net/course/view.p
hp?id=26

6. Does your child
engage in a range of
play types?
Do you need to
encourage your child
to play with a range
of activities?
Can you think of an
activity that might fit
across different types
of play?

7.  https://www.sirenfilms.co.uk/library/person
al-social-emotional-development/
 Learners to write down what the child is
learning when playing.

8.  What is your child learning when they are
playing in the sand and water?
Try at home
• Creating a digging area in the garden- perhaps a vegetable patch or a small area
for sand.
• Set up buckets, jugs, containers and allow your child to explore water (NB. Health and
safety).
• Add some different containers, toys, colour or texture to bathtime.

9.  Sand and water play generates countless benefits for children in the areas of
physical, mental, and emotional growth.
 Undoubtedly, being in an outdoor setting is key to the health and wellbeing of our
children. The more time spent outdoors, the more likely children are to connect
with the environment and their natural surroundings. This not only instils a sense
of relaxation, but also produces endorphins to keep the kids smiling all day. The
digging, scooping, pouring, and building used for sand and water play is
physically demanding! This fun form of exercise for children encourages gross
motor skills and muscle development.
 Along with physical and emotional growth, kids water play has significant benefits
for children’s brain power through the practice of maths and science. Mathematics
measurements are easily incorporated into sand and water play by using
measuring cups and spoons, different sized containers, and scales to gain an
understanding of weight and counting. Children are also encouraged to
experiment with the elements, which exposes them to early learning science.
Children can experience different textures and consistencies, and experiment with
adding rocks and other objects to the water
 https://www.scholastic.com/parents/books-and-reading/raise-a-reader-blog/4-
ways-to-add-literacy-learning-to-bath-time.html

10.  Role play is an important part of child development, as it builds confidence,
creativity communication, physical development and problem solving. Along with
being a fun activity, it also allows children to get into character and act out real life
roles or fictional performances.
Try at home
 Making puppets and role-playing your favourite story.
 Acting out a story such as ‘We’re going on a Bear Hunt!’
 Make a den.
 Give children fabric to make cloaks and watch their imagination sparkle.
 Make stick wands- what will your child do with their wand?
 Make up a story with small world creatures or
Finger puppets then see if your child wants to write their story.

11. Listening to a story, acting it out,
playing with the characters led to
high quality writing… The Secret
Escape.

12.  Write a list of the important skills your child
develops at a play park, out on a walk or
playing outdoors.
Try getting outdoors more, if you don’t already. It is so important for development
as well as general fitness and well-being.

13.  Learning through Play Ideas sheet-Moodle PDF

17.  Moodle- Snakes and ladders and board games.
 Lego Maths
 Play ideas sheet
 QUIZ
 https://www.2aspire.org.uk/
 Questions