Creative Play In Education Essay

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How might some key ideas raised in the unit readings develop or improve educators’ understanding and/or enactment of curriculum? An educator’s knowledge of their students effects how curriculum is implemented. The culture of excessive consumerism and the impact it has on creative play for students shapes the educator’s understanding of children. In addition, educators’ unawareness of children’s struggle with gender identity and socio economic standing will impact their enactment of curriculum as a consequence their intended teachings may isolate some students. Play is an important component of children’s learning that educators should consider when designing lesson plans. Play enables children to not only develop motor skills, interpersonal…show more content…
62, 66). Marsh (2010, p. 118) suggests popular multimedia characters can be used to ignite children’s interests in literacy through creative play. During Marsh’s (2010, pp. 124-125) research it was found that students who participated in the creative setting designed around Batman developed a greater confidence in their literacy skills. This confidence translated through to the students’ school work. The children organically modelled their play to involve the writing implements provided and were able to express themselves through writing in a safe place. Subsequently their writing became an integral part in the play scenario. (Marsh, 2010, pp. 124-126). Alternatively, Linn (2004, p. 62) argues the myriad of toys available has a significant impact on children’s development of creativity. When children play with toys based on media characters they will adhere to those traits as expressed on screen. This ingrained idea of the concrete character means children miss out on the opportunity to…show more content…
Children are not able to adopt all messages as they are often contradictory. Therefore, children will assume traits that they can relate to (MacNaughton, 2000, p. 21). However, when these traits do not meet society’s expectations the child can experience disapproval for their behaviour. The stereotypes perpetuated by society and media coerce children to define masculine and feminine behaviours (MacNaughton, 2000, p. 21). This can cause distress for children as they explore their identity. A young boy may be taught by his parents that it is normal to show emotion; whilst television shows and movies promote the idea that emotions are “girly”. These stereotypes may then be reinforced by his peers. Boys wanting to explore stereotypically feminine traits may feel unsafe in their environments to do so (Skelton, 2001, pp. 96-115 and MacNaughton, 2000, p. 30-31). Poststructuralist feminists encourage educators to provide students with the opportunities for discussion with their peers and adults about their gender identity (MacNaughton, 2000, p. 33). In doing so, children are presented with the opportunity to explore and evaluate their sense of gender and allow them to develop an identity which involves both masculine and feminine aspects regardless of their biological sex (MacNaughton, 2000, p.
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