{"id":10947,"date":"2019-06-17T19:58:32","date_gmt":"2019-06-17T19:58:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/?page_id=10947"},"modified":"2025-09-23T14:58:45","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T14:58:45","slug":"cc-2-6-play-coping-and-competence","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/cc-2-6-play-coping-and-competence\/","title":{"rendered":"CC 2.6 Play, coping and competence"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Research demonstrates that developmentally appropriate play with parents and peers is a singular opportunity to promote the social-emotional, cognitive, language, and self-regulation skills that build executive function and a prosocial brain. Furthermore, play supports the formation of the safe, stable, and nurturing relationships with all caregivers that children need to thrive\u201d (Yogman et al., 2018, para. 1).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Play is complex and not all that well understood. Even defining what play is has been challenging for researchers. The Lego Foundation was established with the aim of “re-defining play and re-imaging learning to ensure children build the broad set of skills they need to thrive and succeed” (The Lego Foundation – About us, n.d., para 1).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Founded on the belief that active playful learning encourages flexible, creative thinking, the Lego Foundation supports the concept of playful pedagogy in classrooms for children. The idea is that playful learning experiences prepare children better for the future than traditional “rote” learning, where students learn little about problem-solving and critical thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On their website, the Foundation describes 5 qualities of playful experiences and shows how they can occur in classrooms. Explore the page and watch the video.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\n EXPLORE<\/span>\n Explore and View | Characteristics of playful experiences<\/span>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n
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The video explains that children today need to be prepared to think flexibly, to come up with creative solutions and use what they know. How does this relate to how children are educated where you live?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How would you explain the 5 characteristics of play to someone who is not particularly convinced about the value of play?<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

The following reading is a white paper developed for the Lego Foundation that provides an overview of play research. After you have read the paper, try the interactive review that follows.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\n READ<\/span>The role of play in children’s development: a review of the evidence<\/span><\/span> \n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n
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\n INTERACT<\/span>\n Role of play – review<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

The importance of outdoor play in particular is becoming well documented. The link below is to the topic of outdoor play in the Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development<\/em>. It includes a synthesis that highlights key information. See other tabs for research findings and practical implications on issues ranging from the benefits of outdoor play, to inclusive outdoor play environments, and indigenizing outdoor play.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\n EXPLORE<\/span>\n Outdoor play<\/span>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Any program and policy for young children should be for all children – including children with disabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Disabled children have the right to receive special care and support to ensure they reach their full developmental potential (Article 21) and all children have the right to play, rest, recreation and leisure (Article 31)” (Jenvey, 2013, p,. 4).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Read a short summary of research about play and disability, from the Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\n READ<\/span>Play and disability<\/span><\/span> \n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

Animals and play<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Play is a fact of life and evolutionary biologists believe it is a key to survival. We know that play is very important to children. Particularly between the ages of 2 and 7, play dominates behaviour and is the way children explore and learn about the world. But animals play too – even insects, reptiles and amphibians!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the next two clips, University of Lethbridge neuroscientist, Dr. Bryan Kolb, explains some of the common characteristics of animal play.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\n VIEW<\/span>\n Kolb – play mammals (1:50)<\/span>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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