Children learn about the world and their place in it through their conversations, play activities, and routines with parents and families. Parents can also support children’s learning in out-of-home settings, such as childminding settings, crèches, playgroups, pre-schools, and primary schools. By working together parents and practitioners can enhance children’s learning and development.
Children love to play, and play often mirrors what is important in their lives. When asked about play children talk about having fun, being with friends, choosing activities themselves, and being outdoors. Play can be quiet or noisy, messy or orderly, funny or serious, strenuous or effortless. It can take place inside or outside and develops as children grow and change. Children play for different reasons. Sometimes they are exploring or learning new things. At other times they are consolidating existing learning or practising a skill. Play can also be a way of building or strengthening a relationship. Children often play simply for fun and enjoyment. They bring their own interpretations of situations, events, experiences, and expectations to their play. Children need time to develop their play. They like having spaces inside and outside, and often enjoy playing with other children and adults. They also need props such as toys, equipment and real objects to play with and manipulate. They love to make choices about when, what, where, how, and with whom to play.
Aistear at St. Daigh’s NS
In St. Daigh’s, Aistear takes place in the junior and senior infants classes for approximately 45 minutes over a six week block. Children experience physical play, games with rules, creative play, language play and pretend play. In consolidation, with these forms of play children integrate numeracy and literacy stations together with investigation and construction stations as well as using, jigsaws, board games, playdough, sand and many more resources to develop their language and role play skills around the theme of the term. Children will cover the following topics:-
Vets Construction Site Cafe/Bakery Travel Agents/Airport Farm Post Office School Toy Shop
We will have many other exciting topics to cover in the coming years. If you have any real life objects for the above themes that you would like to donate, we would happily accept! Also, we would like to invite guest speakers such as a vet, farmer, pilot or other occupations to visit. If you are one of these of know someone who is and could relate to 5/6 year olds please let us know.