WEEK 9

• What is play hard to define?

  It has various interpretations and definitions
• What are the two kinds of definitions of play according to Fagen (1974)?

  • Functional: purpose of behavior, no external goal
  • Structural: behaviors performed, play signals, repeated/fragmented/exaggerated/re-ordered
• What is the difference between exploration and play?

  Exploration is goal-oriented, play is not
• Which species engage in play according to Power (2000)?

  Nearly all species of mammals
• How did Reynolds (1976) describe play?

  As "behavior in the simulative mode"
• What are the descriptors (features) of play according to Krasnor and Pepler (1980) and Smith and Vollstedt (1985)?

  1. Intrinsic motivation
  2. Positive affect
  3. Nonliterality
  4. Flexibility
  5. Means/ends
• What are Garvey's views on play according to Garvey (1991)?

  1. Play is pleasurable
  2. Has no extrinsic goals
  3. Is spontaneous and voluntary
  4. Involves active engagement
  5. Has systematic relations to non-play
• Why do children play according to Vandenberg (1978)?

  Play must have a function
• What is the exploration-play application sequence according to Vandenberg (1984)?

  It motivates children to learn
• How does play help children according to Ceyne & Rubin (1983)?

  It helps them manipulate objects skillfully
• What is one reason children play related to confidence?

  To build confidence
• How is play linked to language learning?

  It facilitates language acquisition
• What cognitive and social developments are linked to play according to Lillard (2002)?


  Linked to cognitive and social development
• What role does play have in understanding emotions according to Denham (1986)?

  It helps children understand emotions
• What are the six categories of social play identified by Parten (1932)?

  1. Unoccupied play
  2. Solitary play
  3. Onlooker play
  4. Parallel play
  5. Associated play
  6. Cooperative play
• What are Piaget's three types of play linked to cognitive development?

  1. Practice/sensori-motor play
  2. Symbolic/representational play
  3. Games with rules
• What are Smilansky's four stages of play development?

  1. Functional play
  2. Constructive play
  3. Dramatic play
  4. Games with rules
• What characterizes sensori-motor play?

  Concern with bodily sensation and motor development
• What age range corresponds to sensori-motor play?

  Approximately 0-2 years
• What is symbolic/representational play?

  Using one object to symbolize another
• What age range corresponds to symbolic/representational play?

  Approximately 2-6 years
• What begins in school years according to Piaget (1962)?

  Games with rules
• What do games with rules involve?

  Explicit rules to govern behavior
• What do children learn through games with rules?

  To negotiate, reason, and compete
• What are the problems with Piaget's views on play?

  • Assumes play is linked to cognitive development
  • Children only do certain types of play at certain ages
  • Limited perspective
• Who challenged Piaget's theory of play?

  Garvey (1991)
• What does Garvey (1991) suggest about play?

  Play is inherently social from the outset