Play

Question 1

What model did Krasnor and Pepler propose to define play?

Answer 1

• Enjoyment – indicated by signals such as laughter
• Flexibility – changes in the order, or way, something is done
• Pretence – some sort of “as if” element about the activity
Model proposed by Krasnor and Pepler (1980)

Question 2

Explain the difference between exploration and play

Answer 2

• Distinction between play and exploration is difficult to make, often a child will start with exploration and then move onto play
• Explored by Hutt (1966)

Question 3

Explain the different types of physical play

Answer 3

Physical play
1. Physical activity (often without objects)
2. 3 developmental phases (on the pathway)
3. Rhythmical stereotypes (bodily movements of kicking, waving)
4. Exercise play (running, jumping, climbing)
5. Rough and tumble (play fighting, chasing)
6. (Pellegrini and Smith, 1998)
Rough and tumble - similar in cultures
• Costabile et al (1991)

Question 4

explain the different types of play with objects

Answer 4

. Play with objects 
(e.g. construction play)
Pathway of development
1.	Exploratory 
2.	Manipulations
3.   Construction activities (2 – 3 yrs)
•	Stacking, nesting, jigsaws, sorting by colour/shape
4. Moves to social play with objects which needs shared attention

Question 5

Give an example of individual preference

Answer 5

eg from secret life of four year olds- one boy likes playing alone with toy trains and cars, other boys like rough and tumble physical play

Question 6

Explain the development of fantasy play

Answer 6

Starts with child directing actions towards itself (12 – 15 months)
Directs same actions to another (a toy or parent)
Child gets the toy to be the agent (by about 24 months) - relies of realistic objects
“decontextualization” – the ability to use less realistic substitute objects
Spontaneous by 3 years

Question 7

Explain language play

Answer 7

1. Explored through tape recording children around 2 years
   • Listened to pre-sleep monologues or dialogues
   • Appear to use these times
   • to practice new words and grammar
   • Playing with sounds to create poetic rhythms
   • Trying to make sense of his world by ordering events in a systematic way
   (Weir, 1962 – example)
2. 3-4 years humorous use of language is prominent