Creating play spaces for language and literacy development has benefits for babies to 5 year olds. The document recommends setting up book corners indoors or outdoors with books at different levels. Educators should engage children by reading enthusiastically and letting children turn pages and ask questions. Theories discussed support play as a way for children to rehearse, prepare, learn senses, develop intellectually, and grow socially. The environment is seen as the third teacher, and should not be overstimulating.

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LANGUAGE AND LITERACY LEARNING
BOOK CORNER
AGE GROUP: Babies to 5 year olds
DEVELOPMENT BENEFITS:
SET UP: IN AND OUTDOOR
Recent research has sparked interest among parents and educators with many seeing more
informationabout knowing how children start the literacy journey. It appears that childhood
experiences for babies and toddlers have an explicit link to child’s individual literacy development.
Engaging children in the activity:
Educators try to create your own style when reading and singing songs and rhymes. There is no right
or wrong way to introduce them to the children.
Sit looking at the group, so that the children can see your facial expressions and enthusiasm when
reading a book.
Let the children turn the pages
A few minutes is ok- young children can only sit for a few minutes for a story, but as they grow they
will be able to sit longer.
Run your fingers along the words as you read to them, from left to right.
Make the story come alive- create different voices for characters.
Ask the children questions about the story and let the children ask questions to.
With rhymes you can write down the rhyme on a piece of paper for easy reference during group
time. Try not to rush through the rhyme when you are introducing it for the first time. Children love
repeat familiar rhymes. Once learnt, the retelling is lots of fun!
Let children tell the story – children as young as 3 years old can memorize a story, and many children
love to be creative through storytelling.
Timing the storytelling session:
Children will enjoy coming together to listen to a story. This can be just two children or more made
feel comfortable on cushions, mats, indoors or outdoors.
Reading a story can be spontaneous and lots of fun.

4. Creating play spaces
Where to place a book area
 A carpeted area, with carpet squares a bedspread, travel rug or cushions to add to the
scene.
 Offer a small selection of books and magazines in decorated boxes and baskets or
specifically arranged with soft toys, create an environment that develops interest.
 Book area can be organised outdoors for children. – use of curtain on fences, to the enclose
area, carpet or rugs to make the ground comfortable can help to define the area.
 Children of all ages and stages can enjoy books. Board books made from heavier cardboard
can help little hands to enjoy the experience of turning pages. Books that include bright
coloured pictures which may catch young children’s attention are a great choice for younger
children.
 Children at an early age will enjoy looking at books and talking with adults/educators about
the illustrations.
 Picture books can stimulate children to focus on the illustrations, extend their language skills
and develop understanding of how a book is read.
 Books can be purchased from op shops, borrowed from the local library, brought from home
for a special sharing time.
References: www.zerotothree.org
A stimulating story time kit – city of casey
Gowrie news letter spring 2011-Gowrie Victoria
‘Families support children’s literacy in different ways, and children develop different sorts of
literacy understandings depending on their family experience’. It is important to support
children and families in continuing to use their home language while introducing English as a
second language, as this helps maintain cultural identity and family relationships.
Supporting language and literacy in early childhood.
Play provides a supportive environment where children can experiment and have a go at
reading and writing. As they are playing, children may begin to experiment with writing their
name, or making a shopping list or reading a book to a toy.
Babies are social beings. They want to take part in the lives of their families and communities. They
love to play games such as peek-a-boo, and they often join in conversations by smiling, gurgling and
cooing. These interactive experiences help babies to learn that language is used to express ideas and
feelings and that language is fun. They are also developing conversation skills such as turn taking.
Talk about what you see, for example when you are going for a walk, children at this age2 to 5 is
interested in learning names of objects in their world.
Sing songs and recite rhymes as you play with children, change nappies or settle them to sleep. The
rhythm and repetition of many songs and rhymes helps children learn the sounds and patterns of
language and enables them to join in.

5. Creating play spaces
Tell stories. Read books that relate to children’s lives. If children are used to going shopping, to the
park, or beach they will enjoy books about everyday experiences.
Provide drawing and writing materials such as paper and pencils, crayons and felt pens. These
encourage children to draw and experiment with writing.
Together, find words and symbols that give us information-shop signs, street addresses, for sale signs.
Links to theorists and environment
Educators such as Friedrich Froebel and Maria Montessori strongly believed in the
importance of play. Froebel designed the first kindergarten and to him, play was an
extremely important route to learning. Montessori developed curriculum that incorporated
natural play activities, letting children decide how they wanted to play and learn. Both
methods of instruction were based on observations of children at play which can give
teachers insight into what children are interested in and develop the curriculum from those
interest.
John Dewey also had strong opinions regarding play; that the interests and needs of children
should come first. His ideas have become the foundation for many current views of play.
“Dewey advocated an education for young children that was embedded in their current
experience in the world that surrounded them. He thought play could be used to help
children reconstruct their experience and to gain meaning from it” (Saracho&Spodek, 1995,
pg. 133). If children are able to explore and try to find meaning in the world around them
through play, they are learning more than they would by simply sitting and listening to a
teacher telling them what they need to know. Children need the freedom to discover and
question what they see in order to grow in their development.
The children are the teachers, and the teacher assists in obtaining the knowledge that they
would like the children to learn, through each topic. For instance, if the children were
interested in farm animals, then the teachers would come up with curriculum (math,
science, language, etc.) that they would meet certain objectives of that topic.
Reggio Emilia approach believes that children learn better in a child-led environment which
allows for the curriculum to be developed off of their interests: Classrooms have dramatic
play, dress-up areas.The teacher follows the children’s own interests. Graphic arts are
heavily integrated into the program to demonstrate cognitive, social, and language
development.
Children learn through what Reggio Emilia describes the ‘hundred languages’…it’s a
representation of the child’s thoughts and ideas, and verbal, motor, musical, mathematical,
ethical, imaginary, cognitive, and moral expressions. Learning through the Reggio Emilia
approach it connects with the children’s real lives.
Play as Rehearsal

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In 1972, Bruner stated that one of the main functions of child's play was to rehearse
actions to various real-life scenarios in a safe, risk-free environment so that when
confronted with a difficult situation, it would not be so stressful.
Play as Preparation
John Dewey was a prominent theorist in the early 1900s. According to Dewey, play is a
subconscious activity that helps an individual develop both mentally and socially. It should
be separate from work as play helps a child to grow into a working world. As children
become adults, they no longer "play" but seek amusement from their occupation. This
childhood activity of play prepares them to become healthy working adults.
Play as Sensory Learning
Maria Montessori, an Italian educationist during the early 1900s, postulated that "play is
the child's work." According to the Montessori method, which is still employed today in
private schools, children would be best served spending their play time learning or
imagining. Montessori play is sensory, using a hands-on approach to everyday tools like sand
tables. The child sets her own pace, and the teacher is collaborative in helping the child play
to learn.
Play as Intellectual Development
Jean Piaget is most noted for introducing the stages of child development. These stages
directly relate to play, as he stated that intellectual growth occurs as children go through the
stages of assimilation, or manipulating the outside world to meet one's own needs--
playacting--and accommodation, or readjusting one's own views to meet the needs of the
outside environment, or work.
Play as Social Development
Lev Vygotsky suggested that children will use play as a means to grow socially. In play,
they encounter others and learn to interact using language and role-play. Vygotsy is most
noted for introducing the ZPD, or zone of proximal development. This suggests that while
children need their peers or playmates to grow, they need adult interaction as they master
each social skill and are ready to be introduced to new learning for growth.
Read more: Theories About Play in Early Childhood Education | eHow.com
http://www.ehow.com/about_5444159_theories-play-early-childhood-
education.html#ixzz1cgWPT35A

7. Creating play spaces
The environment in which we live has an enormous influence upon us. It is often seen as the
third teacher. Children need a clutter free environment so that their eyes are not over
stimulated or confused. –(class notes)
2) ‘What are the Benefits to Children of Dramatic Play?
Watching children’s dramatic play as it develops through the early childhood years lets us see
that it becomes more complicated, extensive and prolonged over time. Dramatic play
provides opportunities to combine spoken language with imagination, to imitate, and to
pretend to be someone or something else. It stimulates all areas of a child's growth and can in
turn affect the child's success in school. Dramatic play has also been shown to enable
children to be more flexible in new situations. Pretending allows children to transform real
life, changing things from how they really are to how the child perceives them to be.
By engaging the child creatively and meeting them where they are, we can bring out their
own interests and help them develop skills in fun ways.’
Age group 3 to 5
Some ideas for dramatic play:
Movie Theatre: Set up chairs in front of the TV, showed a Disney
movie, had tickets, popcorn buckets (empty - we worked on
pretending), etc
Post Office: envelopes, paper, pen, papers, stamps (stickers), mail
man outfit if possible (bag and hat, etc), a Mail box (out of a
cardboard box), etc.
Pet Shop: stuffed animals, cardboard boxes put together to
represent cages, containers of pet food (empty of course), pet
grooming items, pet toys, cash register, play money, books about
pets,
Shoe Store: variety of used shoes - all sizes, cash register, play

8. Creating play spaces
money, cardboard boxes to "display" the shoes, a chair to sit to
try the shoes on.
Hospital: bandages, bandaids, masks, scrubs, cots, first aid kit,
stethascope, dolls.
Beauty Shop
We use the wash-off nail polish, face paint, and spray color for hair
and sponge curlers...the kids adore this one.
Language and creative development
What's Learned Playing make-believe lets a child bring the complicated grown-up world down to
size. Research demonstrates that children who are active in pretend play are usually more joyful and
cooperative, more willing to share and take turns, and have larger vocabularies than children who
are less imaginative.
Imaginative play helps children to concentrate, to be attentive, and to use self-control. Think about
how a child develops a game of supermarket. They must take the t first set up the counter, put out
the pretend cans of food, invite friends to shop, use the "cash register," and bag the groceries. All of
these actions help a child to learn about sequence. The children also have a story or script in mind
that helps them to perform each of these steps in an orderly way.
Dramatic play encourages children to think abstractly, which is an important prereading skill.
Children come to understand that words represent ideas.
Link to theorist:
• Children learn through what Reggio Emilia describes the ‘hundred languages’…it’s a
representation of the child’s thoughts and ideas, and verbal, motor, musical, mathematical, ethical,
imaginary, cognitive, and moral expressions. Learning through the Reggio Emilia approach it
connects with the children’s real lives.
Safety in all areas of play
When setting up activities for children safety is paramount.
Educators are responsible to do a daily safety checklist
All play materials and equipment in and outdoor is in good quality and is safe for children to use.
Have age appropriate play material. Their no small toys or objects where children can put in their
mouth
Organise materials in containers and label them, and organise the material so children can access
them easily

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Adequate space for all areas of play
All areas where children can play are supervised by educators at all times.
Making sure that there is sufficient material for the number of children that attend the service.
Use picture labels to help the children be involved in keeping the area neat and organised.
Wonderful Water Play
What Do Children Learn From Water Play?
Imagine putting your hands into cool water on a hot day, feeling it drip from your fingers, the heavy
feel of a container with water sloshing around. Water play delights the senses and is far more than
simply pleasurable for young children. This type of sensory play is important for the development of
the young child. High quality early childhood programs offer many sensory play experiences, such as
water, sand, and play dough.
Water play is good for children’s physical, mental (cognitive), and social-emotional growth. In
sensory play there is no right or wrong way to play. When children pour water, they are improving
their and eye-hand coordination. By playing with others in blowing bubbles or washing baby dolls,
they develop social skills. At the same time, they use their minds as they explore why certain objects
sink in water and others float. Children learn concepts such as empty/full, before/after,
shallow/deep, and heavy/light in a hands-on way. Children learn new words that go along with
water play, such as funnel, surface, float, and strain.
This list describes some of the many ways that water play helps development:
Physical Development
Improves fine motor skills - lifting containers with water
Improves eye-hand coordination - pouring water
Cognitive Development

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Shows math and science concepts: sinking and floating, volume
Shows that the same amount of water may appear to be different when poured into different sized
and shaped containers
Increases vocabulary - wet, dry, sopping, sink, float
Social-emotional Development
Provides opportunities to imitate the play of others - children wash baby dolls
Provides opportunities for imaginative play
Helps dramatic play - together children develop social skills
Stages of Water Play
When children spend a lot of time playing at the sink while washing their hands, they are likely ready
for some wonderful water play. The first stage of water play is functional play. Children explore
water with their senses; the way it splashes, pours, spills, and changes when soap is added. Through
this they learn what water is like and what can be done with it.
After functional play comes constructive play. In this stage, children move from exploring water to
using it for play--for example, pouring water over a toy person and pretending he is taking a shower.
In the next stage, simple play develops into dramatic play, such as a fire-fighting story. Some of the
best props for dramatic play can be created by the children themselves. For instance, if a group of
children is interested in fishing play, you can suggest that the children make fish. Ask the children
what they might need and how they could make them. This gives the children a chance to be
creative and to test their ideas about what materials would hold up in water. Making boats is also a
great way for children to explore their ideas about sinking and floating.
Making a Place for Water Play Indoors
Water play is so important for young children that it shouldn't be available only outdoors in warm
weather. Indoor water play can go on all year long!

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Many childcare providers are concerned about the mess of bringing water play indoors. Water play,
like all sensory play, can be messy. Specially made water tables are available through educational
supply catalogues. These tables can be placed on a large plastic mat or sheet or an old bath mat to
help control the mess when water spills.
Water tables are not the only way to make water play available indoors. You can also use small tubs
or dishpans for individual children. Pick a tub size that is large enough that children cannot tip it over
when it is filled. Place the tub on a table with a mat underneath or inside a slightly larger tub that
can catch the overflow. Keep mops and towels nearby so children can help clean up spills.
Water Safety
Warm weather brings many opportunities for fun and learning through outdoor water play. Puddles,
spray bottles, garden sprinklers, and water tables naturally attract young children. This natural
attraction to water means that children must be supervised carefully. . There must be constant
supervision, when children play near water.
When children are playing around water, safety is most important. Indoors or outdoors, any
container of water is a possible hazard and must be supervised closely at all times. Children have
been known to drown in less than an inch of water. Small containers like buckets are just as
hazardous as wading pools and swimming pools. Stay close to children when they are playing around
water. Use "touch supervision" - this means to have an adult be within an arm's length of each of the
children. Watch carefully for safe and successful play.
Outdoor Water Play
There are many wonderful outdoor water play activities in addition to the standard sprinklers, squirt
guns, hoses, and pools. Children can "paint" outdoors with water. Give them large paintbrushes and
partly fill a large can or small pail with water. They can "paint" the walls, tables, sidewalks, and swing
sets. Children also enjoy playing with water from a trickling hose. They can water plants and fill
containers, and enjoy the feeling of running water on their bodies.
Bubbles are another winning outdoor water play idea.

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Water Toys
The supplies you make available with water can help foster a wide variety of exploration and play.
Corks and rocks let children experiment with sinking and floating. Recycled plastic containers are an
ideal material, and you can add to the learning by poking holes into these containers. Children learn
a great deal from watching the water squirt out of the holes and seeing the water level in the
container drop. Avoid anything with sharp edges. Also avoid wooden or metal things (other than
aluminum or stainless steel), as they tend to crack or rust. Any damaged object should be removed
and replaced.
Here are some useful water play supplies:
Containers
Bowls
Buckets
Recycled containers of different sizes and shapes
Small plastic cups
Experimenting with Water
Measuring cups
Measuring spoons
Corks
Food coloring/vegetable dye
Tongs
Aquarium nets
Scoops
Plastic tubes
Eyedroppers
Funnels
Plastic squeeze bottles

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Plastic tubing
Sponges
Strainers
Troughs
Water wheels
Wire whisks
Plant misters filled with water
Pretend Play
Plastic dishes
Toy boats
Small plastic play people
Plastic toy animals
Paintbrushes
Take time to organize these materials on shelves or in bins, boxes, or drawers. Store the toys low,
where children can reach them easily. Picture labels let the children help keep the area neat and
organized. Then, when they have an idea, they can find toys that they want and can explore their
ideas until they feel satisfied. Make cleaning up part of the learning experience by using rags and
short-handled mops to do "grown-up" work.
Discipline and Water Play
Splashing and Spilling
Water play is valuable for children starting in infancy. Babies love to splash and sometimes make a
mess, so it is best to create a large splash zone. Sometimes toddlers and pre-schoolers will splash or
spill water. Splashing and spilling is part of experimenting with water. The best way to handle this
problem is to involve them in cleaning up the water that was spilled. Have some small mops or
towels on hand that children can use. Explain that someone can slip and fall on the water that spills
on the floor. Children often enjoy the cleanup as much as the water play itself!

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Relaxing Play
For many children, water play is calming and soothing. When a child seems stressed or is having
trouble with other kinds of play, you might suggest water play.
with the environment When water play is organised make sure children have enough space to move,
uncluttered, the area is for small groups at a time. It’s a great activity for quiet time.
Helping Children Learn from Water Play
Melting
Children also learn about water from playing with ice. One way to provide ice for children to
examine is to use clean, empty plastic milk cartons as molds and make large blocks of ice. After
freezing, cut away the cartons and place the blocks of ice into a water table or pan for children to
touch and watch melt.
Dissolving
Another change, like melting, is dissolving. Children can learn about how things dissolve by watching
sugar cubes dissolve in water.
Temperature
You can change the temperature of the water. Children will play differently with warm water than
with cool or body-temperature water.
Color and Scent
You can change the color of water by adding food coloring, or add peppermint or other scents to the
water.
Adding Props

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Look at children's water play to see where pretend play can be added in. Create a dramatic play area
for children to wash doll clothes in a tub of sudsy water and hang them up with clothespins to dry in
the sun. Or, after a trip to the zoo or reading a book about animals, offer plastic animals for the
children to use in their play.
Ask Children Questions as They Play
Ask children open-ended questions about their play. These are questions that don't have a right or
wrong answer. The best thing to say is, "Tell me about it." Make sure children have a variety of
materials, and make enough available. If one child wants a bucket that another one is using, it helps
if you have another bucket to offer. Give children the chance to tell others about what they did and
what they learned through their play.
Summary
Water play is an important activity for children in childcare. It can foster physical, social-emotional,
and cognitive development. The caregiver's role is to provide a safe environment, supply a wide
variety of water play materials, set up an indoor water play area, build and extend children's
language through describing their play with water, and ask them open-ended questions. The
caregiver can also look for ways to extend the children's dramatic play and offer toys to expand the
play.
• Maria Montessori, an Italian educationist mentioned that "play is the child's work."
According to the Montessorimethod, which is currently being practised today in services, children
would be best served spending their play time learning or imagining. Montessori play is sensory,
using a hands-on approach to everyday tools like sand tables and water play. The child sets her own
pace, and the teacher is collaborative in helping the child play to learn.
Together in the Garden
(Garden play)
The best place to find challenge, wonder,beauty,wisdom and pure joy is in the garden.
To garden with children is an opportunity to learn, share knowledge and engage in creative
experience. It is an opportunity not to be missed and will provide experiences and memories that
will last for a long time.

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A garden is a place of interest, mystery, excitement and beauty that offers many opportunities.
Through gardening children learn:
An appreciation of the natural world
A sense of wonder and exploration
An understanding of patterns and life cycles
Creativity
Relaxation
How to solve problems
Other valuable skills such as literacy, and understanding maths through patterns or counting
BABIES
Babies need strong relationships with educators to feel comfortable and safe. This also
extends to their environment. Babies need to feel safe to explore and discover their
surroundings.
The outside environment can be a safe place for babies. This allows babies to explore their
natural world using all their senses – sight, sound, smell, taste and touch and for that reason
it is essential to make sure the garden is safe.
It is important that babies are exposed to as many experiences as possible, with educators
who are enthusiastic and will support the growth of a sense of wonder and exploration.
Garden should be colourful as possible.
Try to have a variety of textures in the garden so babies can feel the differences. Rough
textures should be avoided.
The sound of running water can be soothing, and water features can add to the aesthetics of
a garden. They can be made safe for children by simple modifications.
Walk around the garden with the baby and talk about what you see, hear and feel.
TODDLERS
Toddlers are starting to become more independent, curious and inquisitive. When toddlers
are exploring the garden it requires careful planning to provide freedom and independence
they need, while at the same time keeping them safe. Toddlers enjoy digging, weeding,
moving things in carts or wheelbarrows and watering plants. Spray bottles or small watering
cans they can carry easily are good for this age group.
Learning environment:
Toddlers love to dig in gardens. Supply them with a spade of a suitable shape, and make sure
the soil is broken up or soft enough for them to dig reasonably.
Mud patches/pies can keep toddlers involved for a long time. They will need an area where
doesn’t matter. Have old clothes and gum boots for children to wear.
Toddlers love to help weed the garden but need help in learning which plants are weeds.
They also love picking flowers.
Toddlers enjoy collecting interest bits and pieces. Give toddlers a basket to help collect
veggies, fruit and flower from the garden.

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PRE-SCHOOLERS AND PREPS
These children are interested in all aspects of gardening. They enjoy the physical tasks and the many
opportunities for discovery. They especially love watering plants and flowers and a watering can
gives them an opportunity to develop physical strength, control and awareness of concepts such as
full and empty, dry and wet.
Children at this age group love to be involved in planning the garden. Gardening books and plant
catalogues provide a lot of ideas. This is an opportunity for adults to encourage reading. Writing,
drawing and the sharing of ideas. Ask the children what they would like in garden, and listen to
what they have to say. They will have more interest in the garden and will accept more responsibility
if they feel their ideas have been used.
Learning environment.
Take the children on a discovery walk. Encourage them to look closely at what is out there.
They can use a magnifying glass.
Ask the children open ended questions
Allow time for children to explore, and let them ask the educators questions
Observe ants, beetles, and other bugs to see how they move, what they look like, what they
eat and how much they help in the garden. Spiders are very interesting to watch, especially
when making a web. Snails are also fascinating for young children.
Pre-schoolers and preps are developing a vivid imagination. They love to imagine and act out
their ideas. Garden statues and gnomes are of great interest and can be easily used in their
games and play.
Natural Appeal
When children really enjoy a well-designed play space, they want to return there again and
again. The playspace has a special meaning for them and offers special memories to share.
Natural Playspaces: Allow children to be spontaneous, active and creative. Provide for
children of all ages and abilities, and for boys and girls alike. Promote light, moderate or
vigorous physical activity that supports children’s growth and development.
Quotes from class notes and readings
Learning from the environment
‘we value space because of its power to organise, promote pleasant relationships between people of
different ages, create a handsome environment, provide changes, promote choices and activity, and
its potential for sparkling all kinds of social, affective and cognitive learning. All of this contributes to
a sense of well-being and security in children’. (Malaguzzi 1994)

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Get the children involve in planning everyday….. Ask them ‘what would you like to do today’?
Building with Blocks
There's so much going on in the block corner that it's easy to understand why it is often the most
popular area in the preschool classroom. It can also become the focus of incredible territorial
struggles. Sometimes groups of children begin to act as if they own the space. Often boys dominate
the area, making it difficult for girls (or boys who aren't members of the block clique) to enter. One
study suggests that if a teacher positions herselfin the block corner for part of the day, girls are more
likely to enter and use the area.
Building with blocks is lots of fun--and it teaches many skills that children will use later. One study
indicates that many of the concepts learned from block building are the foundation for more
advanced science comprehension. For example, a child learns about gravity, stability, weight,
balance, and systems from building with blocks. Through trial and error, she learns inductive
thinking, discovery, the properties of matter, and the interaction of forces. One researcher
suggested that one reason you see fewer girls inadvanced placement physics classes in high school is
because they are excluded (intentionally or unintentionally) from many of the "play" activities that
build scientific framework.
LEARNING FROM BLOCKS
Blocks help children learn scientific, mathematical, art, social studies, and language concepts; use
small-motor skills; and foster competence and self-esteem. They are using their imagination and
creative skills to build blocks. Building with blocks also teaches life skills. Just putting away your
groceries in the cupboard is using the same concepts of spatial relations, stability, and balance that
you learned in the block corner.
Besides the scientific concepts discussed in the previous paragraph, blocks also are important in
developing math skills. A child learns about depth, width, height, length, measurement, volume,
area, classification, shape, symmetry, mapping, equality (same as), and inequality (more than, less
than)--all from building with blocks.
Building with blocks also teaches art concepts such as patterns, symmetry, and balance. A child
learns about symbolic representation, interdependence of people, mapping, grids, patterns, people
and their work. A child gains prereading skills such as shape recognition, differentiation of shapes,
size relations. Language is enhanced as children talk about how to build, what they built, what is its
function or ask questions about concepts or directions. And dramatic play is also a part of block
building as children create stories to go along with their constructions.

19. Creating play spaces
Finally, building with blocks fosters a feeling of competence, teaches cooperation and respect for the
work of others, encourages autonomy and initiative.
It's not just building with blocks that is educational--so is cleanup. Sorting and storing blocks teaches
classification and one-to-one correspondence, which are important math skills.
Jean Piaget
Piaget was a French speaking Swiss theorist who posited that children learn through actively
constructing knowledge through hands-on experience. He suggested that the adult's role in helping
the child learn was to provide appropriate materials for the child to interact and construct.
He would use Socratic questioning to get the children to reflect on what they were doing. He would
try to get them to see contradictions in their explanations. He also developed stages of development
BABIES – LEARNING THROUGH PLAY
(Face games, sensory play, mirrors, soft toys)
Play is communicating. Every educator that plays from "Peek-a-boo" to "Pat-a-Cake," from knee
bouncing to lullabies, comes from a love of communication games, face to face, enjoying one
another. " Early speech-reading (lip reading), mouth movements, rhythm and facial expression are
learned during communication play. If your infant or toddler is learning spoken language, these
games let you call their attention to meaningful sounds. This is a first step in learning to listen. For
example, you pull the blanket over your face, and play Peek a Boo!" As this game becomes familiar
the baby is alert when he/she hears her name. A little later she will pull the blanket when she hears
the familiar pattern of "peek-a-boo." reward for listening is your smiling face and chances to keep
playing the game. A finger-play song like pat-a-cake has a special pattern or rhythm babies will start
to recognize after you play the game many times. After you have played the game many times, try
asking your baby, "want to play pat-a-cake?" Wait a moment and see if the baby responds by
showing excitement or moving her arms. Babies begin to show they understand around 10 to 12
months of age.
Babies are learning through every sense during play, even before you begin to participate with
conversation. Early play is about feeling the textures of woolly blankets, smooth sheets, fuzzy bears
and bumpy carpets. It is about looking at edges, bright colors, stripes and movement. It is about
becoming aware of as much sound as your baby can hear and relating sounds to their sources. It is
about smelling stinky things and making faces, or smelling wonderful things and trying to get them.

20. Creating play spaces
Your baby gets to communicate during play, because you ( the educator) are the babies favourite
toy. Your facial expressions and actions as well as your speech and/or sign say, "This is fun! This is
exciting! What do you think?" And, your baby's expressions and actions tell you the same thing.
Play is the beginning of creativity. Although right now babies seems to have only one use for a toy,
putting it in her mouth, soon there will be doll houses, play dough, construction toys, dress up and
block and truck centers. When the stuffed pig snuffles at your baby's tummy and the stuffed dog
"barks", your baby is discovering the exciting possibilities of pretend.
Most of all, play is experience. Experiences in early life, especially exciting, interesting, or calming
play experiences, give your baby things to talk or sign about. The language that accompanies play
will become the language of their surroundings, family, early learning centre, and community.
Benefits of Hand Puppet Play
In and outdoors
Age group: 2 to 5 year olds
Hand Puppets are a natural and fun extension of the pretend play that young children engage in so
readily. With a little encouragement from you, hand puppets will help your children develop some
important learning skills. Hand Puppet play is imaginative and open-ended and equally freeing for
adults. Let your child take the lead and you’ll be amazed at where you will go together.
Here are some of the ways that children learn from hand puppet play.
Hand puppets
Communication and Social Skills
Many children communicate easily with their own and other people’s puppets, giving them
confidence to express their ideas and feelings
If they are shy about interacting, they can become acquainted with others through the roles they
take on
Hand Puppets are an ideal springboard for developing speaking and listening skills.
With a puppet on their hand children are free to try on new personalities and take them off again,
broadening their own in the process.

21. Creating play spaces
Scary animal hand puppets like lions and sharks or shy ones such as a tortoise can help children
master uncomfortable feelings - giving them an opportunity to gain some control over their world by
working out fears and frustrations.
Creative Skills
Hand Puppet play helps young children develop creative skills by forcing them to use their
imaginations. They make up the roles, the rules, the situations and the solutions.
It is through imaginative play that children come to understand the differences between fantasy
and reality. The real world becomes more real to children who have opportunities to pretend.
Language skills
Whether children write their own stories or adapt one of their favourite books into a play,
storytelling with hand puppets is one of the best ways for kids to build their reading,
comprehension, and vocabulary skills, building on their ideas by introducing new words, their
meanings and other information.
Pick books that are appropriate for the children's' age and reading level. Younger children will likely
enjoy folk or fairy tales featuring animal characters, magic, or fantasy, while older children may be
drawn to stories involving mystery, science, drama or even non-fictional accounts of important
people or events.
Half the fun of putting on a hand puppet play comes in planning the performance. Creating a hand
puppet show is a wonderful way to help kids learn to work as part of a group.
Links to the theorists
‘If children are able to explore and try to find meaning in the world around them through play, they
are learning more than they would by simply sitting and listening to a teacher telling them what they
need to know. Children need the freedom to discover and question what they see in order to grow
in their development’. – John Dewey.
Lev Vygotsky suggested that children will use play as a means to grow socially. In play, they
encounter others and learn to interact using language and role-play.
The environment:
A stage, a big card board box with material draped over, all different sorts of hand puppets, dress
ups, behind a table, anything the child’s imagination desires…….
Make the environment very cosy, inviting and secure (very homely)…..children can use this type of
play to connect with their lives….
Children are effective communicators. (Outcome 5 Early Learning Framework)

22. Creating play spaces
Children communicate with others from birth. They begin by using gestures, visual and non-verbal
cues, sounds, language and assisted communication in forming relationships. Over time,
communication becomes more intentional.
Children’s wellbeing, identity and sense of agency are dependent on their communication skills and
are strongly linked to their capacity to express their feelings and thoughts, and to be understood.
Children respond non-verbally and verbally to what they see, hear,touch,feel and taste. Through
relationships with responsive adults, they take turns to explore sound and movement patterns, sing
songs and are exposed to chants and are exposed to chants and rhymes.
Children are effective communicators. (Outcome 5 Early Learning Framework)
Children communicate with others from birth. They begin by using gestures, visual and non-verbal
cues, sounds, language and assisted communication in forming relationships. Over time,
communication becomes more intentional.
Children’s wellbeing, identity and sense of agency are dependent on their communication skills and
are strongly linked to their capacity to express their feelings and thoughts, and to be understood.
Children respond non-verbally and verbally to what they see, hear, touch, feel and taste. Through
relationships with responsive adults, they take turns to explore sound and movement patterns, sing
songs and are exposed to chants and are exposed to chants and rhymes.
As an educator we help children explore and understand, their play which reflect their learning, well-
being, communication, language and creativity.
We are also providing physical environments that:
• supports emotional security and creativity
• are warm, home like, safe and secure
• are aesthetically pleasing
• provide appropriate space/storage/furniture
• allows access to a wide range of materials

23. Creating play spaces
Art skills they can develop:
Understanding perspectives
Developing skills in design, representation, balance and stability
Creativity
Life skills they can work on:
Building longer attention spans
Problem solving
Planning
Developing dispositions toward curiosity and learning
Discovering wonder and exploration
CREATIVE
Associations

24. Creating play spaces
Relationships
Problem-solving
Finding New Solutions
Sensory Exploration
..
Link to theorist
Jean Piaget
Piaget was a French speaking Swiss theorist who posited that children learn through actively
constructing knowledge through hands-on experience. He suggested that the adult's role in helping
the child learn was to provide appropriate materials for the child to interact and construct.
Link to theorist
B.F.Skinner’s(1957) behaviourist theory of language development explains language acquisition as a
“stimulus-response” process. Behaviourists believe language is learned through imitation and
practice. Associating sounds with objects, actions and events, infants learn to speak and listen by
turn –taking with the adult practitioner. A process of modelling and reinforcement is used as the
child imitates and practises language.