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In this assignment I am required to complete an 1000-1200 word assignment I am required to: critique one example of outdoor equipment, indoor play space and materials the age and stage of development it is most relevant to the type and stage of play it is linked to the value in relation to children’s development the role of the adult reference to theorist how cultural background should be considered Critique of equipment, Play space and Materials Outdoor Equipment 1 .
The age/stage it would be most relevant to. BALL- There are many different types of balls for childes to play with so a ball would be relevant to any age or stage the child may be at. At six months a child will stare at the ball and he/she will enjoy grasping and feeling it, so a ball with different textures would be very interesting for a six month old. From twelve months the child will learn how to grasp the ball and pick it up. From two to five the child is learning how to kick the ball and throw the ball and in the end children learn to kick the ball towards a defined goal. . The type and stage of play it is linked to. The types of play a ball is linked to is physical and manipulative play. It is linked to physical play as the child can exercise their whole body when playing with a ball they do this by kicking , catching and throwing the ball. A ball is linked to manipulative play as the child is using their hands. The child is using Gross manipulative play as they are using their whole hand and arm when throwing or catching a ball and they are also using fine manipulative play by using their finger muscles and thumb.
Playing with a ball is linked to many different stages of play for example spectator, associative and co-operative play. . The value in relation to children’s development. Playing with a ball relates to many aspects of the child’s development including physical- as the child physically catches throws or kicks ball. Intellectual- as the child is is learning how to grasp kick and catch ball. Social and emotional- as the child is interacting with others and also sharing and taking turns with the ball. 4.
The role of the adult The role of the adult is to instruct the children so they can play and explore outdoors. The adult must also provide opportunities for the children to play in pairs or smalls groups. Also the adult should show the children how to get involved and show direct support. 5. Reference to theorist Margaret McMillan believed that outdoor play would improve children’s health. She supported the ideas of Favorable. Mac Milan built a terraced garden with materials for climbing and swinging. She also had animals and birds in her garden.
She got the children to help her grow plants and vegetables. “The best classroom and the widest cupboard is only roofed by the sky” 2 6. How cultural background should be considered Childcare practitioners should respect all children’s different cultural backgrounds. When selecting resources they must promote equality and diversity so that all childes are treated equally and all are included. Indoor play space 1. Age and stage it would be most relevant to Home corner- The home corner is suitable for all children at any age or stage of development.
In the homeowner there is the play kitchen, plastic plates, bowls, saucepans, kettle, toaster etc. The home corner is suitable for all ages as the children can do a lot in the home corner. A 12 month might only pick up plates and bowls and carry them around or pretend to feed themselves with plate and spoon. A three year old might make up a game with others like cooking dinner and shopping. 2. The type and stage of play it is linked to The type of play the home corner is linked to is Imaginative mad creative as in the home corner the child can create many types of games in the home-corner I. Cooking, pretending to be shopkeeper, shopping for supplies. The stages of play the home corner is linked to is Solitary, spectator, associative and co-operative. 3. The value in relation to children’s development Playing in the home-corner relates to many aspects of the child’s development such s physical- as the child is picking up things and putting them down Intellectual – the child is making up their own games language- the child may be interacting with others social and emotional – as the child is playing with others and taking turns in their games.
The role of the adult is to provide support for play for example having a range of materials and equipment for the children and also make sure the children have adequate space, time to play and choice. 3 5. Reference to theorist Interiors believed that every child should have freedom of movement and choice in whatever activity they might want to do. The interiors classrooms are structured and ordered. Practitioners must create an atmosphere that is warm and inviting within the classroom. “the children learn from one another” (Dry.
Interior’s Own handbook, Bentley 1966) p 25 When selecting resources door the indoor play space practitioners must select a range of different materials to support all cultures. This ensures that no child will be excluded because of their background and it also gives all the children the chance to learn about all the different types cultural backgrounds. Materials- Open-ended, Real-life and Recycled. Open-ended- dress up Real life- small sweeping brush and dustpan Recycled- plastic containers/cartons/bottles for home corner I. Yogurt, washing up liquid, drink bottles Dress-up- Dress up is suited to all age groups as all children like to put on different dress up clothes. Young children may Just like to wee dress up clothes. Older children may make a game out of dress up. Sweeping brush and dustpan- Suited to all age groups a 12 month old might like to grasp the sweeping brush and Just drag it along ground and a three year old might help teacher clean up by using their own little sweeping brush and dustpan.
Plastic containers- All age groups can play with plastic containers as they are all washed out and safe for all children to use. A 12 month old may Just pretend to dining/ eat out of them and a three year old may make up a game. There are loads of things children can do with plastic containers. Dress-up, sweeping brush and dustpan and plastic containers all link to Imaginative and Creative play as using any materials above the children make up their own games.
The stages of play dress up, sweeping brush and plastic containers are linked to are solitary( play on their own), spectator(watch others), associative and co- operative play 4 2. The value in relation to children’s development Children playing dress up or using sweeping brush or playing with plastic containers contributes to many aspects of the chills development Intellectual – they are using their cognitive development for creative and imaginary play social and emotional – as they are interacting with others linguistic- the child is communicating with others whilst playing. . The role of the adult The role of the adult is to ensure the indoor play materials are structured so that it reflects on the individual child’s strengths, interests, abilities and needs. The adult must be aware of and respect each child’s feelings, language, ability, background, and culture during play. Whisky believed that pay helped children to understand and take in what they have learnt. He believed that during play children can explore ideas more and they move to a higher level of thinking above what is ‘normal’ for their age.
He also believed that the practitioner should always be one step ahead of the child which he called the Zone of proximal development which is defined as “the distance between the actual developmental level as determined by independent problem solving and the level of attention development as determined through problem solving under adult guidance, or in collaboration with more capable peers” ( Whisky, 1978) The role of the adult is to ensure that all materials promote equality and diversity.
When choosing resources the adult must choose multi-cultural materials, so that no child is excluded from play because of the materials.