Running Head: PLAY 1

Balance Of Play and Curriculum

Cady Hurtado

Fresno Pacific University

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Balance Of Play and Curriculum

The fundamental play is very crucial for early childhood development. Play is a building

block from the age 3-7 and play continues after the age of 7 as well. There are a few problems

that can appear with play. Recess is very important for children for many different reasons. Art

helps children develop their motor, social and cognitive capabilities. When a child goes to school

especially preschool children are improving their gross and fine motor skills everyday.

Play is a stepping-stone for a childs life. Children learn a lot of information from play.

Play is fundamental to the development because it devoted to the physical, social, cognitive and

welfare of a child in early childhood education (Ginsburg, 2007). Play helps young children to

practice their creativity side while they using their imagination; with children using their

imagination, play promotes a healthy brain development. In 2001, many school districts acted to

the No Child Left Behind Act by diminishing students recess time, which less free time for

children to play and use their imagination outside and not just in the classroom. Piaget outlined

three different types of knowledge and one type of knowledge is Physical knowledge, which

states that a rock sinks and corks float (Van Hoorn, Nourot, & Scales, 2014, p.37).

As a teacher all of the teachers must come together to understand how crucial and

fundamental play is. If all of the early childhood educators came together and realized that all of

their students need to have extra time to exercise play (Ginsburg, 2007). As educators they know

how important play is but sometimes it is difficult to make a little adjustment into their lesson

plans but children need to have more time to play to be able to develop the childs imagination.

As child advocates and educators it is important to realize that they have to support the childs

creativity anyway possible.

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Also when looking at play there are some important key factors that every educator needs

to look for. One of those key factors is when a child begins to wander he or she may need help

asking to see if they can play with them. Another thing to look for is when a child is being

ignored. When a child is being ignored he or she may need help being apart of the group. One

way to get the child involved in play is having the child play near the group and as an educator a

way to help the child is by giving the child suggestions on what to do. One last thing to look for

is when a child is being rejected by play. A reason a child may be rejected by play is because the

child may use force when another child says no on joining them play.

When observing recess there a couple things that everyone needs to be aware of. The first

important thing is the childs safety, which means a child is not going up the slide the wrong way.

Which as every educator knows every child is curious on what happens when a child does

something wrong. Recess helps develop the social development as well as the emotional

development of a child by having the children participate in talking to other students (Murray,

Ramstetter, vol. 13, p. 184). Recess is also important for the welfare of the child, the American

Academy of Pediatrics (APA) recommends 60 minutes of activity per day and at school children

can have the freedom to run around for the pure joy (Murray, Ramstetter, vol. 13, p. 184). When

a child is given that break from classroom activities the child can go play games with other

students and they can use their imaginations outside like to play the game, Going on a Bear

Hunt.

As educators it is important that all of the teachers strive to make sure that children have

enough time to run off their energy. The reason it is important for children to run off that excess

energy is to make sure that child is ready to pay attention to learn. When the children run around

then they can also sit still for a little while longer. Children need their recess to play and if there
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is anything that educators can do to make sure the children can have an extra five minutes

outside it is important to try to do so.

Art has always been significant part in early childhood educational programs. Friedrich

Froebel, the father of kindergarten, believed that young children should be involved in both

making their own art and enjoying the art of others (Engelbright-Fox, Berry). Young children

feel content when they are drawing, using clay, or simply just making art. Art can build a childs

self esteem and self confidence children can feel proud of themselves by being able to express

themselves through art. Art is also part of the sensory exploration. Art can help children develop

more of control of their use of fine motor skills. Art should be a creative process and educators

should not always try to put a theme on the art piece (Engelbright-Fox, Berry). Children may feel

overwhelmed by having too many supplies on the table it is best to only give them a few supplies

at a time.

One theorist that made sense as an educator was John Dewey. John Dewey believed

children learned by experimenting. With teaching children experiment by mixing primary colors

to make secondary colors. When children see how colors can change they get that look on their

face of pure joy and excitement from learning something new. As educators all the teachers

strive to do that everyday some days they are successful at that especially with art.

The fundamental of play is crucial for a child especially a child in early childhood

educational program. Play teaches a child the importance of creativity and imagination as well as

role-playing with other students. Play needs to be extended it is very important that children be

able to use their imagination. Recess is also very important for children to go outside and run off

energy. Recess allows children to feel free. Art permits children to express them in a creative

way. When children are able to express themselves through art they feel very accomplished and
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proud of themselves. It is important for children to have good self-esteem. When a teacher gives

children too many art supplies at once children can feel overwhelmed. Art also helps the fine

motor skills by the children using scissors and drawing. The theorist who made a lot of sense was

John Dewey as educators most teachers observe the children trying by experimentation.
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Reference:

Engelbright-Fox, J., PhD, & Berry, S., M.ED. (n.d.). Art in early childhood:

Curriculum connections. Retrieved June 02, 2017, from

http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=113

Ginsburg, K. R. (2007, January 1). The importance of play in promoting healthy child

development and maintaining strong parent-child bonds. Retrieved June 2, 2017, from

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/pediatrics/119/1/182.full.pdf

Murray, R., MD, & Ramstetter, C., PhD. (13, January 1). The crucial role of recess in school.

American Academy Pediatrics, 131(1), 1st ser., 183-188. Retrieved June 2, 2017, from

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/pediatrics/131/1/183.full.pdf

Van Hoorn, J. L., Nourot, P. M., & Scales, B. R. (2014). Play at the center of the curriculum.

United States: Pearson.