Importance of Play in Early Childhood Special Education

1. Importance of Play in Early Childhood Special Education Heather Morey ECE 520 Fall 2012

2. Why did I select this topic? • I chose to research why play is important in early childhood special education because it is a topic that I have been interested in since taking my first masters class in 2011. I wrote a shorter, less detailed summary paper on this topic in that class and have since chosen to elaborate and research the topic more intensely.

3. Thesis • My paper addresses: • What play is • Why it is important to ALL children • Why it is especially important to early childhood special education students.

4. Findings • I found a TON of resources but not a lot that specifically dealt with children ages birth through five, which was my focus. • The solid sources I did find came to the same conclusions: • “Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning (Fred Rogers).” • “Child accomplishments developed through play include communication skills, physical agility, independence, social judgment, cooperation, impulse control, and many other skills (Fromberg & Bergen, 2006, p. 290).”

5. Findings cont… • Play is important because it develops: • Communication skills • Many special education students have trouble communicating their feelings, wants, and needs. They often show these more prominently through play. • Physical Agility • For those students who have a physical disability, it is important to exercise the parts of the body they can use. Cooperative play may be exceptionally helpful because the student is playing with at least one other peer and often is trying to do what that peer is doing, causing them to stretch muscles or attempt tasks that will strengthen them physically. • Independence • Independent or child centered play forms the imagination and creative side of development. It helps the child see there are things they can do on their own and builds their confidence, which is an area where several special education students of all ages are lacking.

6. Findings cont… • Cooperation & Impulse Control • Early Childhood Special Education students, especially those with behavior challenges or those with severe disabilities often become frustrated and do things such as hitting or having a tantrum on impulse. Play, especially onlooker (where the child watches another group play from afar), will help that child learn HOW to deal with his/her feelings. Associative and cooperative play assist the child in learning to cooperate with others and make compromises.

7. New foundations on learning • Changes I will make with my students: • I am currently the Director of School Age programs at the child development center run through Davison Community Schools. I am in three buildings with three different groups (K-4th grade, Preschool, and 5th-8th grade). • All of my groups now have unstructured play time – INCLUDING the older children. Some of the research I have read stated children learn behaviors and skills from one another when play is unstructured and not adult lead. The special education students are also more apt to participate knowing they will not be expected by adults to perform any particular task. • Ex. When we are playing a game as group such as kickball, they know they will be expected to kick, run, and possibly catch a ball to the best of their ability. When they are participating in unstructured play time they may choose to play with general education students (more often than not) and are more comfortable because there isn’t an adult breathing down their back. • This does NOT mean they are not supervised. My staff and I watch all choices they make to be sure they are appropriate.

8. Great Resources • Play from Birth to Twelve: Contexts, Perspectives, and Meanings. Edited by Doris ProninFromberg and Doris Bergen • Used in ECE 645: Advanced Study of Early Childhood Curriculum • Contains articles by several authors on topics pertaining to play such as Perspectives, Meanings, Education Contexts, and Social and Physical Contexts. • Aviva Dorfman • Knower of all things involving play! • Ask her about the junkyard • adorfman@umflint.edu • (810) 762-3260 • French Hall 430