Dear Families,
Three central features of the The IB learning platform in the Early Years Program are learning spaces, relationships and play.
Considering the importance of play is essential because research shows that so much of young students’development is supported through child-initiated play. Our teachers in the Strelitz Early Years program schedule uninterrupted time for play everyday in both indoor and outdoor spaces.
Engaging in solitary play allows children to explore, experiment, discover and solve problems in imaginative and playful ways. But, group play is equally important. In group play, children develop and test relationships, they learn self-control and negotiation skills. Group play helps children prepare for a lifetime of interacting with others.
Cognitively, many experts agree that play is essential for a child’s brain development. Jean Piaget, a leading child development theorist, believed that “the role of play in constructing knowledge is the most clearly articulated avenue of children’s development.” To put it more simply Fred Rogers once said, “Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning. In IB parlance this is called symbolic exploration and expression. i.e. children like to act out what they are learning about.
It is important to note and it is also a tenant of the IB Early Years philosophy that child-initiated play and teacher-supported learning often go hand in hand. Sometimes the role of our teachers is to observe and encourage children’s learning and inquiry during their interaction with children while they play. For example, while children are playing, a teacher can pose questions that encourage problem solving, prediction and hypothesising. This is the way so many connections to previous learning in the classroom are reinforced. Teachers can often notice during play, a student’s emerging thinking processes and interests and respond in ways that extend the learning.
Play, it’s a good thing!
Shavua Tov,
Lorna Orleans
