In preschool, about three hours of the day is devoted to play. Play, for preschool-age children, maximizes and supports the development of the whole child – a person able to sense, move, think, relate to others, communicate and create. Children work best, generally feel most comfortable, and are the most engaged within the environment of play.
This environment allows children to freely choose and explore various activities such as dramatic play experiences, building structures with blocks or other materials, using instruments to make sounds, creating pieces of artwork or narrative stories using pictures and labels, reading books, playing games to practice appropriate social skills, and many more.
The environment of play also provides teachers with an ideal opportunity to assess children. When a child is assessed in such a rich environment, then instruction based on individual and group needs can occur and effective learning can take place. Play is a vital part of any quality preschool program
This environment allows children to freely choose and explore various activities such as dramatic play experiences, building structures with blocks or other materials, using instruments to make sounds, creating pieces of artwork or narrative stories using pictures and labels, reading books, playing games to practice appropriate social skills, and many more.
The environment of play also provides teachers with an ideal opportunity to assess children. When a child is assessed in such a rich environment, then instruction based on individual and group needs can occur and effective learning can take place. Play is a vital part of any quality preschool program
