Play as a pedagogical approach allows early years educators to embrace play techniques to foster happy, confident, and competent children: Early Childhood Education Assignment, TUD, Ireland

Assignment 1 

Play as a pedagogical approach allows early years educators to embrace play techniques to foster happy, confident, and competent children. You are being asked to develop a portfolio of playful activities and resources that can be used with young children in your setting.

In this portfolio, you must develop 5 play-based activities that are suitable for the children that you are working with. You must also include 3 reflections/ observations of play.

Within each activity, you must explain and incorporate the following

• What type of play has been identified within the activity?
• Does the activity demonstrate relational pedagogy and explain the role of the educator in the activity?
• Does the activity respect the rights of the child embrace the child as a holistic learner explain how?
• Does the activity support children with challenging behavior, explain how?

Explain in detail the rationale for the chosen activity, potential benefits and weaknesses and final reflection at the end of each activity. Include photos where possible of activity or resource

Assignment (2) 

You are required to explore and discuss practice-based issues in designing and engaging in a play-based teaching approach in the early years setting.

Please support your assessment with reference to national and international literature.

It is expected that you provide a holistic description of the contemporary issues that exist in play-based approaches in the early years setting.

An analysis of the role of the early year’s practitioner and their pedagogical strategies are required.