Play is one of the most important ways in which children learn. It underpins formal learning later in childhood, but also enables the individual child to develop their self-worth.

In fact, the right to play is deemed so fundamental to children’s wellbeing, that it is enshrined by the UN as a universal children’s right.

It strengthens powers of concentration, essential for a successful future in the classroom, and underpins everything from learning social interactions and norms, to the beginnings of scientific thinking.

Play is particularly important for the younger child. Preschool children, and those in Reception, learn through the EYFS National Curriculum, which is inherently play-based. It is the foundation of childhood development in terms of language, emotional intelligence and regulation, creativity, and intellectual reasoning.

According to the book ‘Einstein Never Used Flash Cards’ by Golinkoff, Hirsh-Pasek, and Eyer, play can be broken down in to five core elements:

• Be fun and enjoyable
  • Have no set goals
  • Be spontaneous and voluntary
  • Involve active engagement
  • Involve an element of make-believe

Here, we explore our top 15 activities for helping children learn through play:

1. Sand

Sand play is a fantastic opportunity for the foundations of scientific learning and developing self-confidence and physical development. Scooping, digging, pouring and sifting teaches children how things work, whilst also building their muscles and coordination. Done alongside a little pal, and it becomes about teamwork, sharing, and social skills.

The Learner Fund had two primary aims:

1. To provide subsidy funding to support existing staff working directly with children in registered Early Years Services and registered childminders to meet the mandatory minimum qualification requirements which came into effect on December 31st 2016 i.e. Level 5 in Early Childhood Care and Education on the National Qualifications Framework (NFQ) (or equivalent)2.
2. To provide subsidy funding to support existing Early Years practitioners who have an ECCE Major Award qualification at Level 5 on the NFQ (or equivalent), to attain a Level 6 qualification, in order to meet ECCE contractual requirements which also came into effect on 31st December 2016.

Since the Learner Fund was established over 5,000 early years practitioners have been supported through the Learner Fund to raise their qualification levels in Early Childhood Care and Education in line with the National Qualifications Framework.

As well as providing subsidies for Levels 5 and 6, as above, Learner Fund has also provided bursaries to Early Years Graduates who have completed qualifications Level 7, 8, 9 on the National Framework.

The 2021 Learner Fund Graduate and Childminder bursary is open to applications from August 16 to October 1, 2021.

Contact your local City/County Childcare Committee (CCCs) for further details. Their contact details are available at https://myccc.ie/

 

Looking for ways to be active as a family? We’ve got lots of family games to play indoors and outside that will get everyone moving and having fun together. 

It’s important to be physically active, but that doesn’t have to be organised sports or something outside the family. It can be play and games. It’s any activity that gets the heart to beat faster.

So take your pick of our 20 active play and game ideas for all ages, and all types of weather conditions. 

 

https://www.safefood.net/family-health/active-play-games