Play has been identified as a primary mode of learning for young children. Participants of this workshop will gain greater insights into how children’s play maximizes individual learning potential in all domains – cognitive, social, emotional, motor, creative, and communicative.

Objectives
Participants will be able to understand:

• Why play is such a powerful tool to maximize children’s learning.
• The role of the adult in facilitating active play.
• How core play activities integrate and develop cognitive, social emotional, motor, language, and creative competence.
• How to apply knowledge of learning principles toward organizing learning environments for active play.

Outline 
Day 1: Overview of Play

• Identify and discuss why play is such a powerful tool to maximize children’s learning.
  • Discussions of current research on play
  • Discussions of developmental norms of play and related domains
    • Cognitive – development of creative and thinking skills – divergent, reflective, problem solving, and decision-making skills
    • Social – Development of cooperative, collaborative interactions, working with others, social problem solving, and negotiating skills
    • Emotional – Development of self-concepts, self-esteem, self-reflection, and independence
    • Development of associative language skills
    • Development of motor skills
• Identify and discuss the role of the adult in facilitating active play.
  • Documenting learning using a variety of approaches
  • Modelling positive interactions
  • Developing reflective practices
  • Using a protagonist approach to engaging children in play

Day 2: Creating Effective Learning Spaces to Encourage Cognitive Play

• Identify and discuss how core play activities integrate and develop cognitive, social emotional, motor, language, and creative competence.
  • Set up core social environments to encourage the development of cooperative, collaborative interactions, working with others, social problem solving, and negotiating skills; and to encourage the develop positive self- images, independence and self-reflection
  • Set up core cognitive environments to encourage the development thinking skills – divergent, reflective, problem solving, and decision-making skills
  •  Integrate all domains within learning activities
  • Model and develop appropriate associative language skills
• Apply knowledge of learning principles toward organizing learning environments for active play.
  • Make sense of developmental norms to organize learning activities and or learning environments
  • Involve children in a planning procerus to organize the environment
  • Evaluate the learning activities and or learning environment in order to make changes and or adaptations.

Trainer’s Profile

Dr. Crowther has been involved in in-service training, on site, at conferences and workshops both nationally and internationally. She has presented in urban, rural and isolated jurisdictions across Canada. The focus of these presentations has been to improve individualized sustainable, quality of childcare services for early childhood professionals.

She has published numerous textbooks and articles in association newsletters and other professional journals. Current publications include concept books that bridge the gap between theory and practice. She writes articles and concept books based on client demand.  Dr. Crowther also publishes resource books and support materials on demand.

Methodology

Participants will be fully engaged in discussions, hands-on and reflective activities, and application exercises of the fundamental principles of learning through play across all domains – cognitive, social, emotional, motor, language, and creative development. Participants will understand how to effectively organize play-based learning environments using practical examples and reflective exercises.

Target Audience

This workshop is of special interest to any individuals involved in caring and educating young children in the early year settings including home and centre-based programs and school settings.

Investment
Early Bird: SGD750.00/person if register by 1 Dec 19
Individual: SGD790.00/person
Group of 5 or more: SGD690.00/person

Other Details
Duration: 2 days, 12 hours
Closing Date: 1 Jan 20 1 June 2020

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