Play to Encourage Development

The professional working with young children facilitates children's play to encourage motor, cognitive, language, social, and emotional development

Resources & Media for Understanding Competency 1.8

a

Ensures that children initiate and design their own play
b

Creates an environment that invites children to play (i.e., places relevant props near the dramatic play areas)
c

Responds to children's needs and interests as they play
d

Exercises caution when joining children’s play so as not to disrupt their process and natural learning experiences
e

Teaches children how to enter a play group, how to invite other children to play, and how to organize play with their peers
f

Teaches children how to be peer models for play
g

Provides support and structure to specific children during unstructured play times
h

Assists children in sharing toys and materials with one another and teaches the appropriate social exchanges for
turn-taking
i

Teaches children to plan their play, and positively reinforces them for planning and for following through on their plan
j

When working in the child’s home, engages caregivers to join in the child’s play and to involve siblings and/or other children in the child’s play

x close