California Preschool Curriculum Framework

Early childhood is a time of curiosity, a time for play, and a time of rapid development. Every child is unique and deserving of an early childhood education that facilitates academic, social, and developmental growth through a variety of enjoyable experiences. Differentiated instruction adapts content, products and processes to meet the diverse learning needs and preferences of students (Thousand, Villa, & Nevin, 2007). Friedrich Froebel, the creator of Kindergarten, believed that children grow and learn as they play (Bruno, 2009). Play-based instruction not only enables young learners to have fun, but it also encourages interactive and cooperative learning, passion for discovery, and a foundation for later learning experiences

As an early years practitioner it is your job to ensure that you meet children’s learning needs and understand and work with all children’s learning needs. It is important that you provide different kinds of opportunities also focus on individual children’s learning needs each and every child is unique and all learn at different rates. When in a setting it is important that you plan an enabling environment that children will find challenging but will allow them to learn in different areas.

The relationship between play and learning seems obvious to many child professionals and parents, and yet there are still lack of understanding surrounding the importance of children's play. Some people believe that children need to "work" not play, and that playing serves no useful purpose in a learning and development environment. This is surprising considering that play, with its high levels of motivation and potential enjoyment empowers children (as well as people

This assignment is all about play and learning for children and young people. Play is engaging in an activity for enjoyment and pleasure however can also be used for learning purposes and development in children and young people. Play activities can be planned by practitioners within the setting or can be free-play, when a child goes off and plays by themselves. Play can be carried out individually or in groups and can also be carried out in different environments such as indoors and outdoors. ‘Research confirms the importance of play for infants in developing children’s brains and minds.’ (http://playtherapy.org.uk/ChildrensEmotionalWellBeing/AboutPlayTherapy/MainPrinciples/PlayDefinition) this is why practitioners encourage young children

“Play is developmentally appropriate for primary-age children and can provide them with opportunities that enrich the learning experience” (Copple & Bredekamp 2009). Early childhood education holds two main focuses; a child-based focus and a family-based focus. Early childhood education has positive outcomes on the child through their learning experiences, and their growth and development. Based on the family, the results of early education happen through the communication that the family has with the educators and by the encouragement they get from within themselves, and also from the educators.

Children play an important and active role in their own learning. Most infants display an intense curiosity about the world. This leads them to make the most of opportunities to learn through play.

This first chapter has quick insights of how Cultural Competence could be so effectively with children. What this chapter made me recognized is that it’s essential to building a relationship with students. As the text points that students may be more comfortable with a teacher of their own background, regardless of the teachers background the true success of having a learning environment is based on a sensitive, caring and committed teacher. Having teachers getting to know their students would be encouraging for a teacher-student relationship student might discovery acceptance and comfort in having someone who provides stability and structure by getting to know them. Additionally, teachers should not be scared to permit themselves to be taught

The terms “play”, “learn” and “teach” are commonly used in the early childhood sector. This essay attempts to define and interconnect these terms to produce a holistic understanding of how play can be used as a medium to help children learn.

Play is central to the development of children, enabling them to make sense of their world as they learn through exploration and experimentation. Susan Isaacs said ‘play is indeed the child’s work and the means whereby he grows and develops’. (Isaacs,1929) Play can support a child’s social, emotional and behavioural development through the following:

Education has dramatically changed over the years. Gone are the days of sand tables, dress up, and finger painting in kindergarten. Now, educators have started to transition from playful learning to more of a structural type of learning. These changes are due to the pressures of the No Child Left Behind Act and Common Core curriculum that has been enforced. Even though standardize testing doesn’t start until third grade, kindergarten teachers are held accountable if children aren’t prepared beforehand. Kindergarten has since turned to more structural work such as, workbooks and textbooks. While, this may seem to benefit math and reading skills, children aren’t learning the basic skills of development. A report by Jill Bowden, a postdoctoral fellow at the university of Pennsylvania, explains how developmental psychologist have shown that, for young children, play is learning and helps children to learn how interact with others.(33) Playful learning allows children to develop in areas such as imagination, language

When we structure our activities to acknowledge different perspectives we enhance student learning (http://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/cultural-diversity-at-school/). As teachers we must find ways to teach our children in ways that they learn and this at times can be difficult and for

Play is inevitable when it comes to children. Given the right environment and objects (of any sort), children will find a way to play. Jarvis, et al state that educators must offer inspiring, playful environments which include hands-on activities and interesting resources. This will empower children to educate themselves (2009). Along the same line, Wood and Attfield consider that an environment inclusive of varied resources will provide room for growth in their learning and will support the child’s “creativity, inventiveness and originally” (2005, p.231).

Everything a child learns is learned through play. It is essential to a child's development. Playing is experiencing and it is through experience that children learn.

Pre-K through kindergarten class is where children experiences learning that we help them grow a positive self-image along with the emotional, social, and intellectual skills necessary to be successful in the classroom. My curriculum would help create a sturdy basis in the growth of independent learners. It is where I as the teacher will guide the children to some choice-based activities which can create some independent learners. The classroom activities for the

Play is a part of our lives! There are playgrounds everywhere: in parks, fast-food restaurants, malls, schools and homes. Playing with peers, toys, blocks, music, dance, sociodramatic play and coloring are important for young children’s development progress. Effective early childhood educators help and develop young children’s innate capacity for learning. Especially teaching young children, fun activity helps them easily learn language. Teachers should encourage conversation between children. Through practices, preschoolers have more opportunities to speak. Learning while playing, preschoolers easily adapt to new environments and make successful transitions to kindergarten. Once their language skills are developed, they are ready to read and write.