The Connections
In This Issue
Why Children Need Play
At Home Play Activities
Early Learning Connections Child Care Resource and Referral
January —March 2015
Why Children Need to Play
Deborah J. Leong PhD, Elena Bodrova PhD
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/why-children-need-play-0
Playdough Power
No Bake Playdough
Recipe
On My Way PreK
Community Fairs
Who’s Who at ELC
Paths to QUALITY
With increasing emphasis at school on developing academic skills in children at
younger and younger ages, what role does dramatic (“pretend”) play have in
early childhood? Is the idea of play merely a throwback to another time when we
did not have as much information about how children learn to read and acquire
math skills? Is play a luxury? Is it worth it to sacrifice playtime in order to make
sure that children learn the letters of the alphabet and know how to count,
especially those “at risk?” In any case, don't children already play enough at
home?
There is a growing body of research that shows a link between play and the
development of cognitive and social skills that are prerequisites for learning more
complex concepts as children get older. For example, play is linked to growth in
memory, self-regulation, oral language, and recognizing symbols. It has been
linked to higher levels of school adjustment and increased social development.
Play has also been linked to increased literacy skills and other areas of academic
learning (a view held by Piagetian and Vygotskian theories of child development).
Play is especially beneficial to children's learning when it reaches a certain
degree of sophistication. In other words, “unproductive” play happens not only
Children need when children fight and argue over who is going to be the “mommy” and who is
the freedom and going to be the “baby,” but also when the child who is “mommy” keeps
performing the same routines with her “baby” day after day with no change. By
time to play.
contrast, play that has a potential for fostering many areas of young children's
Play is not a
development, including social and cognitive development, has the following
luxury. Play is a characteristics:
necessity.
Kay Redfield Jamison
1) Children create a pretend scenario by negotiating and talking to peers and use
props in a symbolic way; and 2) Children create specific roles-and rules-for
pretend behavior and adopt multiple themes and multiple roles.
(continued on page 2)
Early Learning Connections  8400 Louisiana St  Merrillville, IN 46410
(219) 685-1500  www.ccrr.geminus.org
(continued from page 1)
When children engage in this kind of play for most of their early years, they
learn to delay gratification and to prioritize their goals and actions. They
also learn to consider the perspectives and needs of other people. They
learn to represent things symbolically and to regulate their behaviors and
act in a deliberate, intentional way.
Most primary school teachers would probably agree that they don't expect
kindergartners to enter first grade with a complete mastery of spelling or addition. After all, it is in
the early elementary grades when children learn these academic competencies. However,
teachers of entering school-agers do hope that the children who come into their classrooms can
concentrate, pay attention, and be considerate of others. These areas are developed not by using
flashcards or computer programs, but through interacting with peers during play.
Today, many children do not have enough play opportunities at home because of TV, videos, and
the computer. They interact with toys that are not conducive to building imagination and interesting
dramatic play themes. In many instances, pretend play with siblings and neighborhood children is
not available. There are more adult-organized and directed activities than in the past. They tend to
be in groups of children of the same age rather than in mixed-age groups, which would include
older children who could act as “play mentors.”
Early childhood classrooms provide a unique setting to foster the kind of
dramatic play that will lead to cognitive and social maturity. There are other
children to play with, a setting that can be organized to accommodate
imaginative play, and adults who can encourage the play, guiding children
to play effectively with each other. Indeed, this is the cornerstone for all
learning, and we need to stand firm in our support of play.
At Home Play Activities
Below are a list of activities you can share with your parents, but you may also incorporate them
into your daily routines as well!
Trail's end—Take a roll of toilet paper and create a trail for your child to follow. Tie a little surprise at the
end for your toddler to find.
Cotton tip painting—Pour out some paints and forget about the brushes, instead use cotton tips to create a
different type of artwork. Your toddler will have great fun experimenting with art.
Pillow jump—Toddlers love nothing more than jumping on pillows - so why not create a playground full of
them?
Make a foil crown—Let you toddler become a little prince or princess they are with some everyday items.
Take some cardboard and tin foil and whatever else you can find to bejewel your creation. Fun to make and
then fun to play with.
Playdough Power
See more at: http://families.naeyc.org/learning-and-development/music-math-more/playdough-power#sthash.o3AWxzhz.dpuf
Squishing, rolling, sculpting, molding . . . young children love to play
with playdough. Add some props from around the home and playdough
play becomes a powerful way to support your child’s learning. This simple preschool staple lets children use their imaginations and strengthen
the small muscles in their fingers—the same muscles they will one day
use to hold a pencil and write. Using playdough with you, a friend, or
siblings supports your child’s social skills such as sharing, taking turns,
and enjoying being with other people. Playdough also encourages children’s language and literacy, science, and math skills—all at the same
time! Homemade or out of a can, playdough can provide hours of fun and learning at home. Besides the
playdough, all you need are a clear surface, a few household items, and lots of time for fun.
You have everything in your kitchen to begin Playdough Power!
Here is a recipe that your children can help with:
No Bake Playdough Recipe
Large mixing bowl
1 cup water
4 cups flour
2 to 4 tablespoons of cooking oil (we used Canola)
1 1/2 cups of salt
food coloring
Glitter (optional)
1. Pour water into a large mixing bowl.
2. Next add food coloring. We added generous amounts of red and blue food coloring to make purple, which
seemed like a galactic color! Once you add the food coloring to the water, stir well.
3. Add the dry ingredients ( flour and salt) to the mix. You can stir a little at this point to begin blending the
ingredients.
4. Next add 2 to 4 tablespoons of oil. You can add more oil later if the mix seems to dry. Oil is the secret to
keeping this "no cooking required" recipe soft! If you don't add enough oil, the mix will be very crumbly.
5. This next step is a big hit with kids! Add generous amounts of glitter to your mix and begin mixing everything together.
6. Knead the ingredients together until a soft dough is formed.
7. To store, simply roll the dough into small balls and keep in plastic bags or a plastic container!
Dear Providers,
Enrollment for the On My Way Pre-K 2016-2017 school year has begun. This is a wonderful opportunity
for your high quality pre-k program to offer free pre-k to children who will be four-years of age by
August 1, 2016. The wonderful aspect for families is that they do not have to be working or in school to
qualify to receive a free grant for their child(ren). In order to be eligible families must meet income
guidelines to qualify. If your program is interested in becoming an On My Way Pre-K Approved Provider,
the center/home must be a Level 3 or 4 in Paths to QUALITY™, the state’s quality rating system. If your
program is currently at one of these levels and wants to be approved, please log onto http://www.in.gov/
fssa/4931.htm and complete the following forms. Please follow the instructions for submitting all these
forms:
On My Way Pre-K Provider Enrollment Information Form
State of Indiana Direct Deposit Authorization Form
W-9 Form
If your program is not a Level 3 or 4 and is interested in advancing, please speak with your CCR&R Coach
to discuss the requirements needed to achieve these levels. Please note that the deadline for OMW
family Pre-K applications to be submitted is March 25, 2016. There is no deadline for provider
applications, but provider applications should be submitted by the end of February 2016 to get on the
approved provider list in time for parents to choose for the 2016-17 school year grants.
Community Fairs
Early Learning Connections – Geminus
Child Care Resource and Referral would
like to participate in your next event. We
are always looking for community fairs and
events to reach out to local families and
communities. If you would like us to
set up a booth with brochures and
information for your next event, contact
Lourdes Chavez at (219) 685-1500 or by
email at [email protected]
The following Paths to QUALITY providers leveled up or
recertified at their current level between October and
December! Congratulations! Keep up the great job of
providing high quality child care to the children of Northwest
Indiana!
Level 2
Level 3
The Portage Child Care
Village Park Child Care Center
Bright Future Academy
CRC Kid’s World
Hilltop Academy Child Care and Preschool
In Good Hands
LaSonia Cable
Mind Shapers Home Daycare
Miss Mary’s Daycare
Secret’s Loving Care
Toddle Tykes Daycare – Darlington St
Level 4
Toddle Tykes Daycare – Planett St
Toddle Tykes Daycare – SR 39
Toddle Tykes Daycare – Weller St
Toddlers Inn I
AJ’s Angels
Amazing Minds of Northwest Indiana
Charlotte R. Riley Child Center
ELKA Child Educational Center, Inc
Growing Kids Learning Center
Kathy Bradley
Michelle’s World of Learning
Ms. Ann’s Celestial Education
Pathways Two
Suze-Que’s
Suzette Crittle-Gibson
Tender Hearts
The Children’s Place
Wee Care Child Development Center
Are you interested in learning
more about the Paths to QUALITY
rating system for the state of
Indiana? Please feel free to give
our office a call and we will be
happy to provide you with
information!
Do you have a website? We are
looking for companies that will
post the Blue Button to their websites! This will allow parents to
complete online child care referrals with the click of a few keys!
Please contact Lourdes Chavez if
you are interested!
[email protected]
Ezohn Smith
Professional Development Manager
[email protected]
Valerie Castillo
On My Way PreK Manager
[email protected]
Nicole Brown
Infant/Toddler/Prenatal Specialist
[email protected]
Lourdes Chavez
Outreach Specialist
[email protected]
Stacey Pagán
Deb Hartzler
Program Director
Jennifer Ensign
Paths to QUALITY Master Coach
[email protected]
Professional Development Coordinator
[email protected]
Courtney Walters
Paths to QUALITY Coach
[email protected]