- Understanding play and how play-based approaches require intentional planning and teaching in order to support and extend children’s learning.
- Explores how educators can help children to be confidant and involved learners, focusing on Outcome 4 of the first national Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) for Australia.
- How children learn and to encourage those working with young children to provide a range of opportunities for them to actively direct their own learning.
- How to use games and activities involving books and familiar objects, to support young children’s developing literacy skills.
- I was amazed to find how similar the early childhood research done in Australia is to ours in the United States.
- Also, when visiting this link: http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/learning_about_children_3_to_9_years/the_schoolage_child/development_5-9_years.html I noticed that they had a link for child development in Australia and another for USA.
- The following link discussed the child obesity problem in early childhood. I was honestly shocked because I thought this was only a problem in the United States. This has made me more aware that is not just a nationwide problem, it’s a global problem. http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/resource_themes/child_health_and_childhood_obesity/childhood_obesity.html
What other noteworthy information did you find on this website?
- When I clicked on the link that had the research article on Understanding play and how play-based approaches require intentional planning and teaching in order to support and extend child learning, I read that there is considerable research on the benefits of play for children’s learning across all areas of development. I found this interesting as well because it is such a huge concern in the United States right now, because we are taking away play time from young children. This is why I feel it is important that we study the benefits of play so that policymakers and administrators will listen to our plea with concrete evidence that play is so important for children.
References
Kennedy, A. & Barblett, L. (2013). Learning and teaching through play: Supporting the Early Years Learning Framework. Early Childhood Australia. 
Hi Jessica
ReplyDeleteIt was quite interesting to see and it was also a new insight for me that your accessing Early Years Learning from Australia included the same information I received in accessing European early childhood education research. That information being, understanding the importance of play when learning academics in the early childhood classroom. I too was amazed to find out how similar the early childhood research done internationally is to national research (US).
Kimberly
Hi Jessica, thanks for broadening our colleagues' knowledge with your posting. I often learn new things from my colleagues. However, my focus is on the aspect of play, because it is the essence of creativity in children throughout the world. Educators and psychologist have called play a reflection of the growth, the essence of the child's life, a window of the child's world (Frost, Wortham, & Reifel, 2007). Play is universal and knows no boundaries, as well as a self-satisfying activity through which children gain control and come to understand life. Children learn about themselves through play.
ReplyDeleteJoanne
Good afternoon Jessica,
ReplyDeletePlay is definitely being taken away from children more and more. My niece teaches Kindergarten at one of the schools here in Phoenix and they did away with play starting the last school year. She was sadden as she packed away all the play stuff leaving the kitchen set to be picked up by the janitor for donation. More and more schools are curriculum driven and she is only teaching there one more year before looking else where- where there is play!! My niece and myself are in support of your research!
Charlotte