The foundation of Favorite Steps℠ Centers on learning through play Children and encouraged to exercise their body and minds through meaningful play. Who said, “but all they do is play”? When children play they are generating many connections and neural pathways within their brain. Play is a critical component because it motivates a child to interact with others and the environment Play provides a framework for learning through the eyes of a child who is exploring and experiencing the world around them. Play provides the foundation for later academic learning and is essential to all areas of development.
PLAY:
- Helps a child discover what is possible.
- Gives a child a sense of control and power.
- Encourages a child to express him or herself.
- Helps a child learn to deal with his or her feelings.
- Is the most effective teacher of social skills
WHEN I PLAY ON LARGE MUSCLE EQUIPMENT,
I LEARN…
- coordination
- sharing
- confidence
- new words
- time
- sequencing
- taking turns
- direction
- rules of the road
- first-last
- position
- traffic signs
WHEN I PLAY WITH BLOCKS,
I LEARN…
- balance
- imagination
- position
- gravity
- creativity
- shape and size
- problem solving
- new words
- eye-hand coordination
- numbers
- self-confidence
- design
WHEN I PLAY WITH ART MATERIAL,
I LEARN…
- colors
- color mixing properties
- creativity
- new words
- eye-hand coordination
- problem solving
- cooperation
- how things work
- independence
- textures & shapes
- self-reliance
- pride in my work
WHEN I PLAY WITH GAMES & PUZZLES,
I LEARN…
- new words
- shapes and sizes
- problem solving
- numbers
- a love of books
- sharing
- eye-hand coordination
- counting
- cooperation
- colors
WHEN I PLAY “LETS PRETEND”,
I LEARN…
- new words
- sharing
- clean up
- problem solving
- independence
- self confidence
- cooperation
- self reliance
- eye-hand coordination
- expressive language
- respect for other’s feelings
- respect for other’s property
- how it feels to be someone else
WHEN I PLAY WITH SAND OR WATER,
I LEARN…
- new words
- measuring
- problem solving
- buoyancy
- properties of matter
- sorting
- effects of gravity
- creativity
- eye-hand coordination
- weights
- expressive language
- sharing
- cooperation
- using five senses
WHEN I READ or AM READ,
I LEARN…
- new words
- imagination
- listening skills
- new words
- expressive language
- new information
- a love of books
- logical thinking
- hand-eye coordination
- sentence structure
- left to right sequence
