Skip to main content

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

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The River - 4 Hour Class

We went out to the park to play and something caught our eyes. There was something new and different. One of the paths in the park was flooded with water. The children quickly gravitated towards it and decided to walk in the water. Chloe said that they were crossing a river. Andrew noted that they can walk in the water because they are wearing their boots. Sara replied with “our feet won't get wet”. Adonis was watching the other children walk in the water. I knew how badly he wanted to do it as well. But he was not wearing his boots. He went around the playground and saw a big branch and started dragging it. I wondered what he would do with the branch.       Adonis brought it to “the river” and started tossing it in the water. Alvis saw what he was doing and quickly joined in. Adonis threw the branch in the water and Alvis got it in “the river” for him. Alvis was wearing his boots so he was able to be in “the river”. They speculated about the size of the splash on
Post a Comment
Read more

Oil, Water & Food Colouring - 4 Year Old Class

The children experimented with oil, water, food colouring and pipettes this morning. They squeezed drops of coloured water into a layer of oil and were engaged for a very long while. This is a simple activity with an intriguing effect.  Irena gently and carefully shook the tray back and forth, blending colours.   Roan watched a small drop rolling up and down the pipette.   Daniel said “The circle drop is getting bigger and darker. It's dark green and red and purple.”   Charlie seemed intrigued while watching water move up and down the pipette as he squeezes the bottom. Lucas thoughtfully puts the strips of paper from a weaving activity in order, and then begins threading the strips through. A very time consuming activity.     While Lucas was having snack, Tiffany and Cara decide to take over where he left off. Lucas comes over to check out the progress. Lucas, while looking at the completed activity said “Cool, the g
Post a Comment
Read more