With a team eager to grow and learn, St Nicholas’ Support Office facilitated a day of curated professional development and training exploring a range of topics including the Phoenix Cups Framework, crafting engaging environments, the Circle of Security, creating a sense of belonging and more.
Underneath the guise of play
Play is a multifaceted approach employed in early childhood education as it enables children to learn through exploration, experimentation and social interaction. Through play children grow in:
- Physical development: in active play children exercise their overall health and wellbeing, develop an appreciation for an active lifestyle and foster independence skills that they employ in self-help scenarios.
- Social and emotional development: dramatic and imaginative play allows children to practice how they work with others to negotiate and make decisions, building their confidence, exploring their emotions and forming lifelong friendships.
- Cognitive development: through group and independent play, children empower their problem solving skills as they bring their imaginations to life, exploring numeracy and literacy concepts. Underscored by a philosophical teaching of strengthening concentration, persistence and resilience.
- Literacy and numeracy development: play requires thinking, language, interactions, curiosity and exploration. These factors foster the exploration and expansion of vocabulary, listening skills, speaking skills, writing skills and more.
Learning through play
Diving into play, our Fletcher team stepped into the perspective of the children in their care to ascertain ways to expand the environments they create to facilitate open and purposely framed play. Guided by St Nicholas’ leaders, our Fletcher team were able to grow their understanding of the crucial role of play in fostering grow within children. Exploring the how and why, our Fletcher team have been inspired to push the boundaries in their practice and pedagogy to find the experiences that support the children in their care to flourish.
Spending this time together grew the bonds within the team, strengthening professional relationships and encouraging each individual to reignite their love of the magic of early childhood education.
Resources engaged for this article
- Starting Blocks The importance of play in children’s learning and development – https://startingblocks.gov.au/resources/children-and-services/educational-programs/the-importance-of-play-in-childrens-learning-and-development
- ACECQA Learning through play and leisure – https://www.acecqa.gov.au/latest-news/blog/learning-through-play-and-leisure
- Early Childhood Australia The Spoke: Finding the balance – play-based learning and intentional teaching – https://thespoke.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/finding-the-balance/
Further reading:
