How can play promote learning in the primary school.?

Play is a key feature of any child’s development and learning. Bruce stated that, play is a spontaneous and active process where thinking, feeling and doing can thrive; when playing we are free to be inventive and creative. Play has a huge impact on a child’s fundamental skills of literacy, it helps to develop their speech development as well as their confidence and creative learning. Play affects a child’s development because holistically they will mature in all areas, this includes their physical, intellectual, emotional and social growth. Play influences the child to make independent, wise decisions and approaches to life. They will practice this and cooperate this into their learning. There are many different ways that play can benefit children, research suggests that play is vital for cognitive, creative, emotional, physical and social development and these developmental benefits last through adulthood (Brown & Patte, 2013). So many topics can be covered through play but some have a bigger impact than others, for example English and literacy. Within the primary school, children can develop their speaking and listening skills through all forms of play. These range from, outdoor play, arts and craft, construction play and role play. Through these examples, children can develop their social skills as well as their literacy and mathematics skills, when carrying out construction play children are estimating space awareness as well as measuring and science. Play provides opportunities to develop knowledge, understanding and skills through a range of contexts spanning all subjects in the curriculum it also develops natural curiosity and stimulates imagination.

References:

·         Bruce, T. (2011) Cultivating Creativity: for babies, Toddlers and Young Children. London: Hodder. 

·         Brown, F & Patte, M (2013) Rethinking Children’s Play. Bloomsbury Publishing.