3. PURPOSEFUL PLAY
PREPARES
PRESCHOOLERS TO
PARTICIPATE
PRECOCIOUSLY
4. “Education is a natural process carried
out by the child and is not acquired
by listening to words but by
experiences in the environment.”
-Maria Montessori
“Play is the highest form of research.”
-Albert Einstein
5. Why Play in Libraries?
• Children learn through play
• Play in libraries fosters a
love of libraries
• Play in libraries supports
early literacy
• Creating opportunities for
purposeful play in the library
can lead to better behavior
6. Playing
Playing helps children put thoughts
into words and think symbolically
so they understand that spoken
and written words can stand for
real objects and experiences.
7. Maryland Model for School Readiness
Language and
Literacy Standards
• Vocabulary
• Concepts of Print
• Comprehension
• Letter/Sound
Relationships
• Phonemic Awareness
13. Arranging Your Space
• Place books in the immediate
area of play activities
• Create cozy areas for children to
sit and read.
• Create spaces that allow for
children to mimic real life
experiences.
Two phases: magnet board, grant. Goal: to create active learning environments.
Active learning environments, school readiness info, PLA ECRR and MMSR linking play to school readiness
Background on MMSR. How playing links symbols to concrete objects. Mention other domains.
Special opportunity for librarians to reach stay-at-home parents and model early literacy skills.
How are your children’s spaces being used now? Difference between chaotic play and purposeful play. What are some ways to redirect that energy?
Noise, Running, Writing in Books, Using books/ materials as toys, Fighting/ HorseplayParents on computers?
Talk about ways to redirect chaotic play into purposeful play. Problems equalOpportunity for Play
• Children become more involved in sustained literacyplay when objects are clustered together to createschema or meaning network.• Studies show that smaller, well defined niches andnooks seem to encourage greater languageexperiences and collaboration with peers and adults.Let them discuss ways to rearrange their space.
What concerns do you have about creating opportunities for play in the library?
