Do you ever wonder why children play the way they do? When children play, they have opportunities to explore, engage and experiment with their ideas and beliefs of the world around them. Many of our programs have shifted to play-based learning offerings to the children we work with to expand their learning. This series takes a closer look at the learning taking place in Block and Construction Play, Imaginative and Dramatic Play and Rough and Tumble Play. Each of the sessions in the series build upon each other through research and reflective practice and will offer ideas for you to explore within your centre.
We can either try to stop children engaging in rough and tumble play or we can stop and unpack what it is and why they are doing it. In rough and tumble play children are smiling and laughing because this kind of play for them is fun! Rough and tumble play is a basic human instinct that helps to develop such skills as strength, movement, body awareness, and socializing.