Observing Play?

The Why, What and How of PLAY

Young children explore the world through play. Early childhood educators know that play is actually a young child's job. Play is the natural place to observe a child's abilities because it allows you to see what the child already knows and how he/she uses that knowledge. Most importantly, however, a child is internally wired and motivated to play. As all parents know, young children are naturally active and have short attention spans. Most young children are unable to sit still for even fifteen minutes at a time. This inability to sit still makes direct instruction, such as that typically used to teach 1st grade and above, an ineffective way to observe the growth of young children and teach new skills.

Young children learn best by imitating a new task and practicing it in a fun, non-judgmental setting. Teachers and parents can see a child's typical abilities or “behaviors” when they observe play. PreschoolFirst provides home activities with stories, games, materials and suggestions for you to enjoy with your child. These play activities help you create different play experiences that focus on one particular age-appropriate behavior. During play, children use previous knowledge in new ways, discover new information about the world, and practice new skills. All you need to do is set out the right materials, ask a few key questions, share some fun, and watch.

Why is showing GROWTH and DEVELOPMENT important?

PreschoolFirst was designed to help young children develop learning in real everyday situations – not in a skills test environment. Our program does not focus exclusively on your child’s performance in one instance, but rather, on your child’s growing abilities. Young children learn new knowledge and skills in a progressive cycle: first a child becomes aware of new information, then he/she explores it by watching and trying to use it, next a child will examine and compare the new information to what he/she already knows about the world, and finally a child will show he/she completely understands the new information and can apply it to new situations. Obviously this learning takes time. In order for any assessment system to fairly represent your child’s progress, it must demonstrate what he/she can do and is in the process of learning. PreschoolFirst helps create a portrait of your child’s growth rather than pressure him/her to do something he/she may or may not be ready to do independently. PreschoolFirst presents many non-threatening play opportunities in which your child can watch, explore, examine, and use new information. This learning environment supports your child’s developing self-esteem and does not undermine his/her confidence to learn new skills or try challenging activities.

Resources for further reading:

Snow, C. E. and S.B. Van Hemel, eds. 2008. Early Childhood Assessment: Why, What, and How? National Research Council. Committee on Developmental Outcomes and Assessments for Young Children. Board on Children, Youth and Families, Board on Testing and Assessment, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. Online at: http://books.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12446