Play As Curriculum

A main ingredient of any infant or toddlerthey find out what interests them.
program should be play. Early childhood educatorsLetting free play remain free is difficult for some
have long recognized play as vital to growth andadults once they recognize how important play is
learning. It is natural to young children and shouldfor infants and toddler. They want to set up
be regarded as an important use of their time,objectives and plan for, indeed, control, outcomes.
not as something secondary of optional.This is especially true for programs for children
The benefits of play are enormous and go farfrom low-income families because of the urgency
beyond the kinds of things we talk about soto prepare them for elementary.
easily, like developing skills and learning concepts.One reason adults sometimes want to control
Play can be an avenue to early literacy skills, fortoddler play is that they do not understand it.
one thing. According to one study, play is wherePreschool play they understand because it looks
many paths to literacy come together andinvolved and productive, and it fits into categories
emerging understanding are integrated, practiced,such as dramatic play or art or block play. But
and tested in a safe environment. Play offerstoddler play may not look like much. Toddlers
children opportunities that come from nowheremay not look involved. They dabble at things,
else. Through play, children get involved inwander around, often carrying objects with them.
open-ended exploration. They are not confined byBut if you watch carefully, you see they are not
rules, procedures, or outcomes. Children at playuninvolved, nor are they in transition. They are
have self-direction. They have power. Throughwalking and carrying. They are making choices. In
total absorption during play, they makeaddition, perhaps they are enjoying the sensory
discoveries they might otherwise never make,changes as they move around.
they work on problems, they make choices, and