In this presentation we discuss the value of play in early childhood education and the role of teachers in play. We present the basic principles of play pedagogy and examples of educational strategies to enhance children's participation in play. You can identify your own opinions of and practices within play with the help of this presentation and do the existing exercises aimed at familiarizing yourself with the principles of play pedagogy. You can see additional examples of enhancing participatory practices during play using the principles of play pedagogy here.
Research and reflective tools >>
Use the tool for observing children's actions in free play as well as the tool for observing your own actions as an ECE teacher during free play in order to explore children's participation in play and reflect upon its relation to your own actions. In addition, you can use the observation rating scale of children's actions in free play and the self-observation rating scale of your actions as an ECE teacher in children's free play to record data about children’s participation in free play and your own corresponding actions as an ECE teacher respectively. In case you want to collaborate with your colleagues and observe each other’s role in play to exchange comments and ideas, use the tool for peer-observation for teachers’ role in play. The investigation of children's opinions is also an important process to understand their experience during the game, but also to listen to their suggestions for its organization.