Running head: SIGNATURE ASSIGNMENT PLAY 1

Play

Erika Paredes

Fresno Pacific University

8/7/17
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Play

As we continue to expand our knowledge towards children and how play is a big part of

children as they grow. We continue with learning how play takes full affect in their learning,

music, art and recess. Play is not just for children to go and have they learn from play like

communication skills, social skills and it helps their brain. In school the children need to get at

least one hour a day of play. Either the play takes place indoors or outdoors it could also include

physical education class. Many researchers have concluded that there is more than one definition

for play. We will be concluding that towards what is meaning of play in art, music and recess

and the role it plays in their learning and in culture. Children can learn and develop awareness

and skills in any of the areas that includes play. Play is important in a child’s relation with

cognitive development especially with their flexible thinking and problem solving skills.

“A child's greatest achievements are possible in play, achievements that tomorrow will

become her basic level of real action (Lev Vygostsky). Researches have shown that a child’s

centered musical play is a powerful medium for young children. Music plays a big concept in a

child’s development, because it helps them use their imagination and their body. In music play

has been described as easy to recognize but hard to define. As mentioned how play has more

than one meaning the main meaning for play in music is that it involves free choices, enjoyment,

self motivation and it focuses on the process rather than the product. We have to see play as a

common way that children imitate the behavior that they observe on others. That helps use their

own ideas that help them develop their play. However, play also shows a child’s imagination

and the ability to think, people and events. Play does not always have to be physically present it

could involve the brain and imitation.

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Music includes spontaneous singing; sound exploration and dance are often the things

that are evident. In a preschool environment children usually use their head voice that are not

used in singing composed songs. Children as they incorporate play in music they also include

different styles. There is “co-operative music play in which children are involved in sociable,

interactive musical exploration; functional music play, in which children are exploring the

sound-making potential of a range of materials and are experimenting with techniques;

constructive musical play in which functional exploration is extended into creative improvisation

and composition dramatic music play” ( Littleton,1998, as cited in Morin, 2001, P.25).

As children develop their music and drawing skills they also involve all that in their

culture. Children learn new things about culture when different music is singed and dance to in

class. The children start to learn about the food other cultures eat and as they draw they start to

learn about the different type of skin color other people are. It helps children express their ideas

as they move from dancing, singing drawing and making different things. Music and art have so

much in common in both they have to use their fine motor skills in opening and shutting their

hands. Having movement in their hands when dancing it helps them have a better grip on pencils

and crayons. Children have the opportunity to do arts, and crafts outdoors using chalk, or in the

writing area, and during activity time. That helps the child expand their imagination and it allows

the child explore using different materials.

Children do not only need time to explore but they also need time to develop their

potential use in art. They need to develop their skills in how to use the tolls and materials, but

they also need the time to develop their thinking through the use of art making. As a teacher or

parents we need to make the time to listen to children and converse with them. That helps us

listen to their ideas and interest. The children engage in play in many different way physically
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they move, dance, and play instruments. They also engage vocally and creativity. As they invent

their own movement, lyrics and patterns. That has a lot of involvement in physical, music and art

as they each play a different role in children play. Children learn from art how to create and use

their body movement depending on the activities they do.

As the research continues towards play cognitive development has a big affect in children

who attend school daily. Children when in a classroom and they just sit for a long period of time

their thinking starts to degrade. That is why schools need to require more breaks and have

activities were children interact with one another. Children's nervous system can be more

sensitive to interference. Proving the opportunity like physical play outdoors or physical

education for one hour divided in thirty minutes each session. That can help children get up and

move and learn through play as well. Children in physical play when engaged in climbing,

playing sports helps them expand their knowledge and they are ready to go back into class and

learn.

“Before playing with his equals, the child is influenced by his parents. He is subjected

from his cradle to a multiplicity of regulations, and even before language he becomes conscious

of certain obligations” (Jean Piaget). As we conclude this research we have come to learn that

children learn from play in different stages. It takes time for children to learn how to play and

manipulate object. When a child is first born they learn how to grasp on to bottles and how to use

their fine motor skills. We have learned that play allows children to envision the future and to

expand their social skills. That was as an adult we have to nature the children and nourish them

as they grow. We also have to nurture the children and allow them to reflect on their experiences.

Children role-play what is model to them and as an adult, teacher, caregiver we have show
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positive role modeling.

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References

Bjorklund, D. F., & Brown, R. D. (1998). Physical play and cognitive development: Integrating activity,
cognition, and education. Child development, 69(3), 604-606.

Lieberman, V. H. (2011). Play at the center of the curriculum. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

Niland, A. (2009). The power of musical play: The value of play-based, child-centered curriculum in early
childhood music education. General Music Today, 23(1), 17-21.

Piaget, J. (2013). BrainyQuote. com. Website: http://www. brainyquote.

com/quotes/quotes/j/jeanpiaget206645. html Accessed, 2.

Vygostsky L. (2013). BrainyQuote. com. Website: http://www. brainyquote.

com/quotes/quotes/l/lvygostskyt206645. html Accessed, 2.