PLAY Play Stages of Play Mildred Parten Lets

PLAY Play!

Stages of Play Mildred Parten

Let’s look at the 4 areas of learning. ■Chatties ■Brainies ■Softies ■Heavies

Chatties ■ Communication – Talking, gesturing, looking ■ Interaction with others – Taking notice of others ■ Turn Taking – The foundation for communication ■ Waiting! – Knowing that it’s not always your turn! ■ Listening -

Brainies ■ Learning and linking experiences – Practising different scenarios ■ Planning- Knowing what comes first and what comes next ■ Investigation – Being motivated to find out about new things ■ Sequencing – Helping to organise ■ Curiosity – Being confident enough to try a new

Softies ■ Confidence – Being able to join a group ■ Sharing! ■ Independence – Feeling safe enough to make choices ■ Copying – Learning from others’ play ■ Disappointment – Being O. K with being upset ■ Fun!

Heavies ■ Fine motor skills – strengthening the hands ■ Gross motor skills – developing core strength and balance ■ Sensory skills – tolerance of different sounds, textures etc

■ ■ ■ So, what are the barriers that our children face? Different type of communication Wishing to follow own agenda Sensory differences Social skills challenges Not knowing what to do! Anxiety

Play Type of Play What to look for: What can we do at school? Stage 1 Solitary Play Tolerates presence of adults within play area Tolerates adults commentary on their play Explores objects /materials presented by adult Independently explores familiar objects / materials Varies objects / materials explored Pupil will play alone, with toys different from those of others, and be uninterested or unaware of what others around them are doing. Stage 2 Spectator play Tolerates adults interaction of their play Enjoys unstructured play alongside an adult Allows adult to intervene in play Gives object to adult during play Recognises and accepts playful behaviour in others Watches peers playing with interest Pupil observes others playing but does not join the play. They will frequently engage in other forms of social interactions such as conversations to learn more about the game or play that is going on. Stage 3 Parallel play Anticipates "playful possibilities" in others Engages in play activities alongside peers Enjoys interactive play routines with a familiar person Imitates actions of adult using familiar object in pretend/symbolic play Independently uses real objects in pretend/symbolic play Explores objects in ways other than their intended use Imitates adult using objects Independently uses objects Imitates sequence of pretend/symbolic play Pupil plays side-by-side from another pupil, but there is a lack of group involvement amongst them. They will typically be playing with similar toys and often times mimic one another. Stage 4 Associative Play Anticipates action in play routine Initiates play routine Indicates they want play routine to continue Engages in play activities interacting with peers Independently carries out sequence of pretend/symbolic play Attributes feelings to toys Enacts story routines / scenarios with toys (copied) Enacts story routines / scenarios with toys (self-generated) Acts out characters /stories / scenarios using role play Pupil will begin to play with another pupil, but not focused towards a common goal. Pupil will be more interested in playing with other children around them than the individual toys they play with. (Associative play is slightly different than parallel play as children may continue to play separately from one another, but they start to become more involved in what others around them are doing. ) You may find pupil playing or trading with the same toys or actively talking with or engaging one another, but no rules of play are being set. ■ Assess and measure stages of play ■ Observe play ■ Give opportunities to build skills ■ Give opportunities for play every day ■ Music Therapy, Break times, My Turn, Your Turn, Snack Time, Sensory Therapy, What’s in the Bag? , Class based lessons, P. E …

What can you do at home? ■ Visit family ■ Organise play dates! ■ Visit Thames Valley Adventure Centre ■ Organise play at home ■ Go to the park