Play and Development

As mentioned earlier, play is a child's 'work'. It promotes learning, development, growth and health. Movement skills, thinking skills, language, social interaction and emotional development all happen best when children are actively involved in an activity - when they are having fun - when they are playing!

Babies

Young babies respond actively to people. They watch faces. listen to voices, smile and make sounds. Later they discover objects to shake, drop, suck, bang, roll and crawl after. Their play centres around the parents/primary caregivers; they watch what you do; listen to familiar songs and rhymes; enjoy tickling games; look at picture books with you; imitating sounds and words; clapping and waving bye-bye.

Toddlers

Toddlers become more interested in playing with 'things' - push/pull along toys, blocks, hammering toys, early puzzles, sand and water. They gradually become a little more secure - playing further away from you, but still with you in sight. They will enjoy talking about play but most toddlers do not share well.

Young Children

By 3 and 4 years, children enjoy pretending. With practice, they will learn to play socially - initially alongside others, sharing with others and gradually in cooperation with others to plan and make up all kinds of games. They will move confidently - enjoying challenges such as bikes, playgrounds and ball games.

Children Learn What They Live

If a child lives wih criticism, he learns to condemn;

If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight;

If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy;

If a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilty;

If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient;

If a child lives with encouragement, he learns confidence;

If a child lives with praise, he learns to appreciate;

If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice;

If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith;

If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself;

If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, he learns to find love in the world!

Play is children's work!

我小时候很喜欢唱‘客人来’。。。

“客人来，看爸爸，爸爸不在家。我请客人先坐下，再敬一杯茶”

我跟我的朋友仔在玩masak的时候也会哼唱几句‘客人来’；我们假装有客人到访找爸爸，然后爸爸在外工作还没回家。这时候，我就会‘扮’做一个有礼貌的小朋友请客人坐下，然后给他一杯茶喝。

我那时候不知道玩耍的‘意义’，只知道可以‘玩’，很开心。

对，很开心，正是玩耍真正的意义。

当我在唱歌的时候，我学习到语言。

当我在跟朋友玩masak的时候，我学习到与人相处。

当我们在假扮着客人，主人的时候，我学习到礼貌，学习到尊敬。

当我感受到玩耍带来的开心时，我学习到什么叫做情绪。

玩耍本来就是小孩子的工作。 Play is children's work!