There are many different types of play ...
Imaginative and socio-dramatic Play
Children are able to create representations of their imagination through acting out. This type of play enhances imagination, oral language and thinking skills. Through this socio-dramatic play children are able to us role play, props and communicate to make connections and sense of their world.
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Constructive and Investigative Play
This includes many hands on, concrete materials that assist in designing and creating imaginative representations. It includes the Lego, Mobilo, collage and interest tables.
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Explorative Play
Through exploratory play children are able to investigate and manipulate the properties of different things. Through play they are exploring, trying, experimenting. This type of play lends itself to an exploration of the world around us.
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Directed and Scaffolded Play
Play is often directed and supported by the educators. Directed play invites the intentional teaching and learning of particular skills and concepts. Play is supported as an exploration of a skill, concept or a particular learning can take place.
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Sensory Play
Sensory Play involves the sensory experiences through mediums of water, clay, sand, paint, touch and smell. The learning environment invites children to 'play' with and use their senses to learn.
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Physical Play
Physical play involves elements of risk taking, fine and gross motor skill development. Running, jumping, climbing and even play 'fighting develop physical competencies in outdoor spaces whilst colouring, drawing and creative construction enable children to interact and play with others.
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Games with Rules
As children develop in their play, games with rules begin to be incorporated into children's play and activities. There is allowance for children to change and adapt rules to suit the context. This form of play develops higher order thinking, rationalism and social skills for interaction with others.
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Language Play
Language play is the natural, rehearsed and repetitive manipulation of sounds and words. Language play gives children the opportunity to 'play' with language through exploration of patterns and sounds in words as well as made up nonsense rhymes, riddles, jokes and stories.
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