REDDAM EARLY LEARNING SCHOOL WOOLLAHRA NEWSLETTER
Dee’s Message Dear Parents and Caregivers, “Children learn as they play. More importantly, in play children learn how to learn.” So wrote play specialist, Fred Donaldson. It seems only correct that in an age when there are specialists for just about every ailment or problem, there should also be one who focuses on the critical role which play should hold in the life of every young child. One of the fundamental tenets of the Reggio Emilia approach to education is that play, as a means of learning, should be open-ended and driven by the interests of the children. By seeing them as capable individuals, ready to explore and learn about the world, we empower the children to learn at their own pace and in ways unique to each child.
Play is far from only being a form of entertainment for young children. While enjoyment is obviously at the core of all play, so too is the potential for learning and discovery. Each day brings with it new opportunities to learn skills, gain knowledge,
9 September 2022 develop interpersonal relationships, and so much more. And all of this is done from the launchpad of play. Providing opportunities for the children to play around the ELS is an ongoing delight for the teachers. While there are the regular indoor and outdoor spaces which the children enjoy, quite often a new activity or interest is sparked by the children themselves. What a pleasure, then, to watch them explore their new-found interest, while spurring on those around them. During the lockdowns over the past couple of years, many parents found themselves running out of ideas when it came to providing new and stimulating options for play around the house. One spin-off from this was an Australian online platform which launched earlier this year, namely Play and Learn Together (https:// www.playandlearntogether.com.au/). The website reminds us that “Children from birth engage in discovery as they wonder, investigate and explore the world around
REDDAM EARLY LEARNING SCHOOL | WOOLLAHRA NEWSLETTER
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