The Psychology of Children's Play
9:30-10:00 REGISTRATION
10:00-10:10 INTRODUCTION (Course outline, activities etc.)
10:10-11:15 UNDERSTANDING CHILDREN'S PLAY (Definition of play, why children play, types of play and their different contributions to child development.)
11:15-11:30 BREAK
11:30-12:00 LEARNING THROUGH PLAY (What is "educational" play? Piaget's stages of learning through play. Links between play and learning. Choosing the right toys.)
12:00-12:30 SOCIAL PLAY (Play is one of the major ways in which children develop social skills. This tends to develop in a fixed sequence. Ages and stages. Top tips for encouraging social play.)
12:30-12:45 ADULT INVOLVEMENT IN PLAY (How to get involved in children's play to stimulate their enthusiasm; the extending, passive, and dominating styles.)
12:45-2:00 LUNCH
2:00-2:30 ROLE OF IMAGINATION (Play stimulates imagination. Various forms of imaginative play activities. The significance of the imaginary friend.)
2:30-3:00 GENDER DIFFERENCES (How boys and girls play differently. Inherited or learned? Encouraging gender-free play activities.)
3:00-3:20 OTHER ISSUES (Play should always be safe; setting limits. When there is too much stimulation. Play and the older child.)
3:20-3:30 SUMMARY & CONCLUSION

e-mail Richard Woolfson at: richard@richardwoolfson.co.uk
Visit Richard's web site at: www.richardwoolfson.co.uk