What theories support play-based learning?

Piaget's theory of cognitive development viewed play as integral to the development of intelligence in children. His theory of play argues that as the child matures, their environment and play should encourage further cognitive and language development.

What theorists support play-based learning?

There are three theorists who are especially important to our understanding of play – Jean Piaget, Mildred Parten, and Lev Vygotsky. They describe play in different ways, but each one is useful for understanding the play behaviour you see in your classroom.

Which theorist believed in learning through play?

1782-1852 - Friedrich Froebel

According to Froebel, “Play is the highest expression of human development in childhood, for it alone is the free expression of what is in a child's soul.” Simply put, he believed play was absolutely vital in the learning process, especially for young children.

What did Vygotsky say about play-based learning?

In Vygotsky's cultural-historical theory, play is an important part of early childhood. Vygotsky believed that play promotes cognitive, social, and emotional development in children.

What is Piaget's theory on play?

From piagetian perspective play is literally cognitive development. Through play children learn information and acquire skills that are crucial to their cognitive development.

Prominent Theorists and Their Contributions to Education

What is Vygotsky's theory on play?

Vygotsky gave a more narrow definition of play than some theories, limiting it to pretend, make-believe or imaginary play. His theory suggests that this imaginary play is vital to children's cognitive, social, and emotional development and should be the main focus of helping children.

What do Piaget and Vygotsky say about play?

Whereas Vygotsky's cultural-historical approach deems play to be a driving force of development, during which multiple processes of new knowledge and skills acquisition are realized, Piaget considered play to be more of a measure of development, as the complexity of play marked the cognitive development of the child.

What is Froebel's theory of play?

He believed that “play is the highest expression of human development in childhood for it alone is the free expression of what is in the child's soul.” According to Froebel, in play children construct their understanding of the world through direct experience with it.

What is Jerome Bruner theory?

Jerome Bruner believed that children construct knowledge and meaning through active experience with the world around them. He emphasized the role of culture and language in cognitive development, which occurs in a spiral fashion with children revisiting basic concepts at increasing levels of complexity and abstraction.

What is Reggio Emilia approach to learning?

The main features of the Reggio Emilia approach

Teachers are always prepared to ask children challenging questions. They encourage children to ask questions, form hypotheses and do research. Individual interests are developed into in-depth group experiences and projects.

What is John Dewey's theory?

Dewey believed that human beings learn through a 'hands-on' approach. This places Dewey in the educational philosophy of pragmatism. Pragmatists believe that reality must be experienced. From Dewey's educational point of view, this means that students must interact with their environment in order to adapt and learn.

What did John Dewey believe about play?

Dewey built upon and critiqued the scripted play pedagogy of kindergarten founder Friedrich Froebel. Drawing in part from progressive kindergarten teachers, Dewey constructed his own notion of play that he argued fostered experiential learning, voluntary participation, and social order.

How many theories of play are there?

Play theories are divided into classical (Surplus energy theory, Recreation or Relaxation theory, Practice or Pre‐exercise theory, and Recapitulation theory); and modern theories (Psychoanalytic theory.

What are the three play theories?

In the early childhood education world, there are many theories of play. In this post, we will be exploring three of these theories: Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Theory, Jean Piaget's Cognitive Developmental Theory, and Mildred Parten's Social Behaviour Theory.

What do cognitive theorists believe about play?

Piaget's theory of cognitive development proposes 4 stages. “According to Piaget, children engage in types of play that reflect their level of cognitive development: functional play, constructive play, symbolic/fantasy play, and games with rules.”

What is play based learning theory in early childhood?

Play-based learning is important to a child's development of social and emotional skills, such as the ability to develop positive relationships with peers. As children play together, they learn to get along with one another, cooperate, communicate effectively, problem solve and resolve conflicts.

What is Bruno's theory of cognitive development?

Stages of Cognitive Development

According to Bruner, one's intellectual ability evolves as a result of maturation, training, and experiences though a series of three sequential stages viz, the enactive, iconic and symbolic.

What are examples of Jerome Bruner theory?

For example, in math education, Bruner promoted the use of algebra tiles, coins, and other items that could be manipulated. After a learner has the opportunity to directly manipulate the objects, they should be encouraged to construct visual representations, such as drawing a shape or a diagram.

How is Jerome Bruner's theory used today?

For teachers, Bruner's Spiral Curriculum theory has significant implications for classroom instruction and curriculum design. By organizing teaching material in a way that revisits and extends previous knowledge, educators can create a learning environment that fosters deeper understanding and long-term retention.

What was Rachel and Margaret McMillan's theory?

Together the sisters believed in nurturing the whole child and professed that children learn by exploring and could achieve their full potential through hands on experience and active learning – things we love here at fairechild! Fresh air and outdoor play were seen as key to a healthy childhood.

Who started play based learning?

Pioneering educator, Friedrich Froebel (1782 - 1852) recognised the importance of play when he opened the first kindergarten in 1836 for children under the age of 7. Froebel believed that play is the principle means of learning in early childhood.

What theorists support outdoor play?

Outdoor play has been integral to the history of early childhood education, and Friedrich Froebel emphasized the value of children's outdoor play and believed outdoor play to be essential for physical, intellectual, and moral development (Froebel 1995).

How did Erikson view fantasy play?

According to Erickson, fantasy play was a means for people to connect with their subconscious minds and explore their inner thoughts and feelings. In his book "The Collected Works of Milton H. Erickson on Hypnotherapy," he writes that "fantasy is the language of the unconscious mind" (Erickson, 1980, p. 133).

What is Barbara Rogoff theory?

Rogoff and other cognitive scientists follow Vygotskij in positing that individual cognitive skills derive from people's engagement in sociocultural activities. Rather than representing a general ability, cognition appears to be 'situated' in specific contexts, and learned through specific cultural activities.

What is the Susan Isaac theory?

Isaacs suggested that observation was the means for meeting children's interests as things arise through their growth in understanding the world and events around them; through physical movement and their delight in make-believe. The child she states “must know and master the world to feel safe” (1932:114).