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Kitchen play helps children develop the fine and gross motor skills necessary to navigate the world around them.

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Engaging in outdoor play can promote a child's overall development by giving them chances to develop their social skills, build their physical skills, and boost their confidence and self-esteem

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Risk-taking in play can give children opportunities to challenge themselves, test limits, overcome fear, and explore boundaries.

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It is important to train children's motor skills to improve their physical strength, mobility and balance. 

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Children seek to explore their world and environment.

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Children notice the similarities and differences in their environment. Which is important for their growth.

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Through pretend play, children build their language and communication as well as developing their thinking and problem-solving skills.

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Children use soft toys to create their own worlds, engage in role-playing, and develop cognitive skills.

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Children learn about their bodies by tracking their own movements which help develop muscles as they stretch.

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Encouraging creativity and imagination through magnetic tiles provide an open-ended platform for children to build structures and objects based on their own ideas and designs.

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Play can not be restricted by the environment

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Outdoor play is a great way to help children adapt. In the photo on the left you can see that the nature was preserved and that play equipment has been built in such a way to challenge the children in their play experience, by keeping the natural incline of the land, grass and sand and securing the slide on the top of the incline. Recent studies have shown that preserving green spaces in playgrounds are linked to structural changes in the brains, which enhances children’s physical wellbeing, cognitive flexibility and improves their creativity and knowledge in children (Cassella, 2020.)

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Teachers need to be aware of the different roles teachers can take

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The photo to the right shows a library visit with the children. A visit has taken place to choose a dramatic story to design. The children really enjoyed the “do not open this book” series by Andy Lee. They managed to find three books out of the series. While going through the books, I noticed that the children already knew what was going to happen. So I decided to ask them open-ended questions related to their stories, such as “what is a lie detector?” and “how do you know if someone is lying?”. Once the children had noticed that this is not a strict environment, they started expressing where they could relate to some of the comments the character of the book was conveying. As well as expressing their feelings. This experience made me think of Fleer’s conceptual play world, where children select their own stories to bring alive (2018.)

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Play can nurture children's and adults lives

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With all the road works and houses being currently build. Children don't all have a local playground to play in. However, should that be seen as a restriction to outdoor play.

The photo above shows how a child can create a place to play anywhere, that they are capable to make play happen in the middle of no play equipment. Children are natural explorers and I believe that it should be supported by educators. The spoke –Children’s right to play blog states that as an educator it is “important to understand the need to balance child-led and initiated play with adult-guided play and support. Being aware of not taking over children’s play and allowing them space and time to engage in play of their choosing is important”(2018.) Sand play encourages a child to listen and work together with others. This supports a child’s empathy learning and helps in their ability to identify the feelings of others along with how their actions can impact the emotions of others.

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Belonging, being and becoming are developed through play

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Painting gives children the opportunity to express their freedom. Painting can also create a social environment where children can work together. Where they are able to communicate non-verbally which can help them connect them to others and provide a sense of belonging. Painting gives children the ability to convey complex and sometimes difficult messages by connecting people emotionally. It also allows children to express ideas of the world around them. Art helps children meet learning outcomes such as.

OUTCOME 1: CHILDREN HAVE A STRONG SENSE OF IDENTITY - children develop their emerging autonomy, inter-dependence, resilience and sense of agency.

OUTCOME 2: CHILDREN ARE CONNECTED WITH AND CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR WORLD - Children develop a sense of belonging to groups and communities and an understanding of the reciprocal rights and responsibilities necessary for active community participation.

OUTCOME 3: CHILDREN HAVE A STRONG SENSE OF WELLBEING - children become strong in their social and emotional wellbeing.

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Casella, C. 2020. Daycares in Finland Built a “Forest Floor”, And it Chamges Children’s Immune Systems. ScienceAlert. Daycares in Finland Built a 'Forest Floor', And It Changed Children's Immune Systems : ScienceAlert.

Davey, G. B., Factor, J., & McKinty, J. (Eds.). (2015). Play and Folklore  , 63(1), 2–25. https://doi.org/https://museumsvictoria.com.au/media/3822/play-and-folklore-63-apr-2015.pdf

‌Kennedy, A. (22 C.E., October). Children’s right to play [Review of Children’s right to play]. The Spoke - Early Childhood Australia’s Blog. https://thespoke.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/childrens-right-play/

The Australian Government Department of Education and Training (2009) Belonging, being & becoming the early years learning framework for Australia, Available at: BELONGING, BEING & BECOMING (acecqa.gov.au). (Accessed: 09 March 2024).

The Five Characteristics of a Conceptual Playworld (Fleer, 2018). (n.d.). Retrieved March 11, 2024, from conceptual-playworlds-starters-rosies-walk.pdf (monash.edu)

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Play can nurture children's and adults lives through music

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This is a photo of a musician playing the piano in the middle of David Jones. I find this photo a good way to describe adult wellbeing with the use of an object (piano). To me, it describes that play is essential to all humans for happiness. The way he drew people’s attention by playing a beautiful piano set where he incorporated a classical twist to a Whitney Houston song, brought people from all age groups together. From young children just admiring his piano skills to adults humming along with the notes. Music is a great way to bring happiness to others through play (Folklore 2015.) The piano set connected people with each other and will bring joy. The musician changed how I felt in the moment and his skill will be touching people’s heart one note at a time.