What is the Adult Role
Make
Suggestions
Listen
Adults
should…
Plan Play and
Leisure
Opportunities
Organise
Equipment
and
Resources
Child Initiated vs. Structured Play
 Child initiated is described as “where learning
is…supported by adaptations to the learning
environment and social interaction which promote
particular avenues of exploration and discussion.”
To be truly child initiated, experiences or activities
have to be genuinely chosen and organised by
children.
(Bayley, Bilton, Broadbent et al, 2008, p.11)
How do you think this differs from structured play?
EPPE project (2003)
 The balance between adult-initiated and child-initiated
activities should be about equal and children should be
encouraged to initiate activities as often as adults
 Adult modelling, when the practitioner models through
demonstration is often combined with periods of sustained
shared thinking
 Open ended questioning is also associated with more
effective learning
 Children’s freely chosen play offers many opportunities to
promote learning when practitioners recognize its
importance and interact with children while they play
Differing Views…..?????
 Non interventionist – those who think adults should
not become directly involved in children’s / young
people’s play and leisure
 Interventionist – those who believe that the
interaction between children and adult is key
What are your views on this?
How do these views link to the theories of Piaget,
Vygotsky and Bruner?
Doing it for themselves
Group Activity
 As a group you need to describe your current position with
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


regard to play. To do this, you will need to reflect and make
notes on:
your views about the value of play
your views about the role of adults in children's play;
difficulties practitioners may experience in a setting with
regard to play activities when children and adults have
different, or even conflicting, purposes and intentions
changes you have made in your views about ‘the child’ and
the value and purposes of play in order to help you better
support and facilitate children's learning through play.