Module 1: The Principles of Early Learning

Play and Early Learning

Play is integral to well-being and learning.

The Early Learning Framework promotes the importance of play.

• Play is vital to children’s learning, growing, and making meaning
• Children experience the world through play
  • They feel, see, touch, and listen
  • They engage with people, materials, places, species, and ideas
• Play is an approach to inquiry
• As an educator, you create a space for play by providing diverse materials and experiences

In the next module, we will look at collaborative dialogue and pedagogical narration. This includes recording moments of children’s experience. Play gives you many moments where you can record children’s learning.

You will be able to share that learning, and critically reflect on your professional practice.