4 Year Old AM Class - The Value of “Play”

At this time of year most families are looking into preschool and asking questions such as: what type of preschool should my child go to? Reggio, Montessori, Nature Schools - with all the choices out there, it can be a difficult decision. I would like to share with you the time I value most during the school year. The observations I find most rewarding, and what I most enjoy reflecting on, is how much creative and imaginative development has transpired at free play from the beginning of the year to now. I would like to share with you some of those moments.

Add Cade is unable to carry all the marbles he wants to take,
so he has a creative idea and uses his shirt to hold them.

Kris is holding a marble; which he then drops down his
sweater to see where it will go inside his clothes.
Discovering, being curious and taking risks,
are all part of the value of play.

Matthew uses his muscles to dig in the sand box,
and at the same time discovers his friends shadow.
He is developing his motor skills through play.

As seen in the picture, play allows Cade and Anthony to
work as a team as they fill the bucket up with sand.

Mia and Lily digging together. They both want to find the wet sand
because they have a goal of building a sand castle.
Mia is collecting wet sand in the bucket.

The children wanted to see where the big buddies go to school, so we arranged to meet our big buddies at Dixon Elementary School. The power of play is at work again as the big buddies learn responsibility and the little buddies learn the importance of taking turns.

Kai is holding the skipping rope while his big buddy jumps over it.

The big buddies show Mia how to use the “hopper” and then
the big buddy waits patiently and watches for Mia to jump on.

Learning to trust big buddies.
Taya trusts her big buddy who is pulling
her on a mini roller board.

Ava jumps rope with her big buddy.

The big buddies are responsible for the little buddies in an outdoor space at the school. The little buddies fully trust their big buddies, as the little buddies are at ease chalking in this space.

The value of play allows children to gain social and emotional skills, enhance language and cognitive skills and develop motor skills.

Until next post!

~Jess

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