UNIT 5: PLAY AND LEARNING
TYPES OF PLAY
Children play because it gives them
pleasure. Play is also an essential part of their
education because while they are playing they
are learning. Play can be broken down into six
different types. Each forms a part of a
child's total development. See attachment.
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

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Physical play
Discovery play
Creative play
Imaginative play
Manipulative play
Social play
Jack and Judy have two children, Josephine a two year old and Tom a 5 year old.
Jack and Judy are thinking of what would be suitable gifts for their children.
Using the table provided;
1.
Choose two toys for Josephine and Tom.
2.
For each toy, list the most relevant type/s of play.
3.
For each toy, state the different areas of development the toy is
encouraging? Refer to the different areas of development
(social/emotional, language, cognitive, fine and gross motor).
4.
For each toy, from your list, demonstrate your understanding of the
type/s of play by describing how Josephine and Tom may play with the
toys.
Criterion 2: Locate, organise and record information about children from
practical and theoretical sources
Criterion 3: Identify the nature of child growth and development
Criterion 6: Design, prepare, implement and assess environments, resources
and activities for children
Moderation Task 2016
CRITERION 2: LOCATE, ORGANISE AND RECORD INFORMATION ABOUT CHILDREN
FROM PRACTICAL AND THEORETICAL SOURCES
RATING ‘C’
The learner:

compiles information and
makes or constructs a
collection of resources
according to given
specific design criteria
RATING ‘B’
RATING ‘A’
The learner:
The learner:
 compiles information and,
makes or/constructs a
collection of resources
that respond to specific
design criteria and stage
of child development

compiles information and
designs, makes or
constructs a collection of
resources that respond to
a range of design criteria
and stage of child
development
CRITERION 3: IDENTIFY THE NATURE OF CHILD GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
RATING ‘C’
The learner:

follows instructions and
participates in tasks that
relate to children’s needs
and development
RATING ‘B’
The learner:

follows instructions and
completes tasks that
relate to children’s needs
and development
RATING ‘A’
The learner:

initiates and completes
tasks that relate to
children’s needs and
development
CRITERION 6: DESIGN, PREPARE, IMPLEMENT AND ASSESS ENVIRONMENTS,
RESOURCES AND ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN
RATING ‘C’
The learner:
RATING ‘B’
The learner:
RATING ‘A’
The learner:

assists in the
development of
appropriate resources
and activities as directed

plans and organises a
range of appropriate
resources and activities

plans, organises and
appraises a range of
appropriate resources
and activities

undertakes the
implementation of
positive, age-appropriate
learning experiences for
children

identifies and engages in
the implementation of
positive, age-appropriate
learning experiences for
children

identifies and engages in
the development and
implementation of a
range of positive, ageappropriate learning
experiences for children
Comment:
Moderation Task 2016
Play can be broken down into six different types. Each
forms a part of a child's total development.
1. Discovery Play: This play enables a child to find out about things – for
example, what they are like – there size, shape, texture, and colour. The child
will also discover that things can be broken. This can help to teach children
about taking care of possessions.
2. Physical Play: Physical play takes place when a child is actively moving around –
for example, running jumping, climbing, crawling, balancing, swinging, throwing a
ball.
3. Creative Play: Creative play is when a child expresses their own ideas and
feelings to make something which is original – for example, a picture, an animal
in modelling dough, a house in building blocks. A young child is able to express
feelings and ideas more easily by painting and drawing than by using words.
4. Imaginative Play: Imaginative play is ‘pretend’ or fantasy play. The child
imagines that they are someone else or an animal such as a rabbit or dog.
Children imitate the ways of adults when they play in a ‘cubby’ house or play
‘shopping’.
Manipulative Play: Manipulative play involves skilful use of the hands. During this
play, the hands, eyes and brain are being trained to co-ordinate – that is, to
work smoothly together. Babies become increasingly skilful with their hands as
they play with rattles, soft toys and other objects. Later on, they benefit from
playing with such things as water, sand and modelling dough.
6. Social Play: Social play takes place when children play together. It teaches
them to cooperate, to share and to be honest. It also teaches them that
antisocial behaviour, like cheating, leads to isolation and loss of friendship.
At any one time, a child may be involved in more than one type of play. For
example, when a baby plays with a rattle, the baby discovers what it is like to
use its hands – this is both discovery and manipulative play. When a group of
children play with Lego, it could involve all types of play.
Moderation Task 2016