Presentation outline and tool: PLAY IS LEARNING 

When working with pre-school children, in various early childhood settings, I have often been asked "Why do you let the children just play all day?".  My response to this question is to explain the many benefits of a play based educational program and to highlight what play affords for young children's development and learning.

This diagram has been developed to be used in conjunction with a brief talk on the topic of 'PLAY IS LEARNING'.  It can be utilised easily as a powerpoint demonstration and/or a handout sheet during the 'Welcome To Pre-School' information sessions.  It can also be included in the orientation packages that each family receives prior to commencing pre-school to ensure that every family is aware of the pre-school's approach to their child's education and understands the benefits of play on children's development and learning capacities.  

                  PLAY IS LEARNING

PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Points to cover:

• Introduce self and topic - PLAY IS LEARNING.
  
• Why we use a play based approach in pre-school
  

Each child has a unique way of acquiring knowledge and they all learn at different rates.  Play enables them to learn in their own preferred way and in their own time through observation, interaction (talking) and active participation.  Children are encouraged, by the staff, to reflect on what they already know, have done and what may happen next.  This enables children to contribute to the learning space and have a say in what is provided in our (daily/weekly/fortnightly) pre-school programmes.  All of which ultimately means our professional programmes are more relevant and meaningful for your childrens' education.  

• Specifically what does play provide for children?
  

When children begin pre-school we spend time getting to know them to find out what they are interested in, what they can do and what they know.  We are then able to plan and guide playful learning through the provision of experiences that children are interested in and which provoke independent thinking.  

Asking each other for help and the sharing of feelings, ideas and equipment is encouraged to build children's social connections within the group, to increase their participation, vocabulary and communication capabilities, whilst at the same time enhancing their self-esteem and self-confidence.  

When play is observed it provides us, as teachers, with a basis from which to extend upon and challenge children's thinking.  It acts as platform for us to introduce new educational concepts that keep their learning moving forward.  For example playdough cooking is always a popular activity.  We can introduce measurement into it by adding measuring cups and spoons.  When we engage in the play ourselves we can guide the learning through discussion about and prompting the use of the cups and spoons.  To extend and solidify the learning we may program a real cooking experience for the children where they measure, pour, mix and mould ingredients while we guide, instruct and demonstrate.  

• Teaching in this manner affords young children the opportunity to learn by doing.