Program 1 - More Than Just Play

This informative and hands on session explains the importance of returning emphasis on PLAY, providing practical, evidence-based strategies and skills, to introduce more play in the classroom. PLAY strengthens educational programs, reduces children’s negative behaviours and achieves higher positive outcomes in social interactions, behaviours and literacy skills. Designed not to add, but to harness participant skills and knowledge of play development, this program explains what is happening in a child’s brain, over that of a fully developed adult brain, and connects the supportive element of pretend play to Eric Ericksons developmental stages.

The program guide –

• • • • 2 hour staff meeting
      • 1.5 hours in classroom service support
      • 1 hour post reflective meeting Q&A

HOUR 1 – LET’S UNDERSTAND

• Upstairs & Downstairs Brain, explaining the brain with a fun interactive activity.
• The child vs Adult nervous system, the window of tolerance, and how nervous systems impact one another.
• Understanding ‘the Iceberg’ of behaviour, a child’s way of expressing an unmet need.

HOUR 2 – LET’S GET PLAYFUL

• Pretend Play, breaking down the 6 segments for understanding.
• Providing practical pretend play scripts, introduce role play of ‘in home scenarios’ (the most common play script of children at this developmental age).