Understand How to Support Positive Outcomes for Children and Young People

Assignment 309

Task A

A playworkers job is to create a stimulating environment for play and give the children the opportunity to have a wide range of play experiences. Every child is different so each child will respond in different ways to play, whereas some children may like doing the same thing for a long time, others may want to change what they are playing with after a short length of time. Some children may not like certain activities or toys so it is important to be flexible when planning the activities so that the children can develop their own interests, for example one child might love going outside to play with the balls, whereas another child may like to stay inside and play in the sand.

Children benefit a lot from being able to develop play in their own way such as, they can express themselves, gives children a choice to be creative, helps children explore materials, build children’s confidence, Helps children become independent, encourages children with decision making and problem solving. Play helps children to use their creativity while developing their imagination, physical and emotional strengths. Play allows children to explore the world the way they want, maybe sometimes facing their fears or practising adult’s roles usually by the people who care for them. As the children explore the world in their own way they will gain confidence they need to face future challenges. There are four types of play, imagination play which can develop social skills and lets the children express themselves, Construction play helps with creative and social skills as they are talking about what they make or create, Creative play which helps children develop fine and gross motor skills expressing themselves through music and dance, physical play results in better eating and sleeping patterns and a healthy lifestyle, it also helps with developing self-confidence and fine and gross motor skills.

Psychological play is meant by children using their imagination where play has its agreed rules which exist in the real world do not apply but the play is still based on reality, also using play which rearranges the world in the child’s way, but unlikely to occur. When children use different toys during play they can develop skills, such as putting a square block in a square hole, recognising numbers on objects or counting objects, looking at different colours naming them or matching them, learning to fit a jigsaw puzzle together maybe getting help from others, learning to connect thing to together by using a range of construction and building materials.

Sociological play is meant by children playing with other children, making friends or working together in groups with different children and communicating with different children using words or gestures. Also children playing rough less to do with fighting and more to do with touching, tickling and physical contact.

Biological is meant by children taking part in physical activities such as playing sports, playground games, dancing or riding a bike. Some of these activities children use balance and co-ordination such as riding a bike. Children are encouraged to have an active life style so it can help them keep fit and healthy.

Freely chosen play is where a child can freely choose the toys they want to play with and when they want to play it, for example draws or low cupboards so children can access any toys they would like. This enables children to develop their imagination, creative and problem solving that are important so that the children can become secure and confident in their environment.

Personal directed is when a child uses a toy the way they would like to use it and not being told by a worker or another child how to play with this toy for example a worker might tell a child to bounce the ball but the child may want to throw the ball, where as another child may want to kick the ball, this shows that each child has a personal preference when playing with the same type of toy. This enables children to develop their imaginative and problem solving skills, the children also learn from the other children doing something different with toys.

Intrinsically motivated is meant by workers not planning what the children should play with for example a worker may write an agenda of what toys to get out each morning, the children might want to do something different so this will make them less confident in themselves and might be quiet because they can’t play with the toy they wanted and can’t fully express themselves.

The playwork organisation seeks to meet the children’s right by letting them develop their own skills by letting them play freely giving them independent and freedom to express themselves and develop , having their views respected and listened to . Treated equally and fairly no matter what gender, race, culture or learning difficulties/disabilities. Letting them make friends and socialising with other people.

The UN Convention on the Right of the Children states that any child who can put their own views across should have the right to express themselves freely in all matters which may affect them. Talking to the children and young people will help the playworker to understand their needs, opinions and ideas; this will help the playworker be able to set realistic tasks and goals. For the children or young people to put their own views across they need to feel comfortable with the adults around them and feel confident that the adults will respect them and listen to their ideas and carry their ideas or suggestions out. All the children are respected regardless of their race, culture, ability, gender, language or wealth; they are treated fairly and never discriminated.

Children’s play affects playworkers by allowing the playworker to observe the children and what they enjoy doing. For example if I child likes using their fingers to brush someone’s hair then their favourite thing to do might be hairdressing. The playwork’s can then get to know each individual child and what they enjoy to do or play with or what they able to do or not do.

Evaluation

After doing task A I learnt a lot more about play and how much children gain from playing and what they gain from freely chosen play. I learnt all the different types of play and how they develop for each play type. I also learnt alot more about the UN convention.

To complete task A I used playwork handbook, I read the questions and looked in the index for a key word and read up on the subjects to give me ideas for the answer and I also used this website -http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;119/1/182

Assignment 309

Task B

Evaluation

After doing task B I learnt about all the roles of the staff in a playwork setting and learnt about the organisational chart within my setting.

To find out the information for this task I looked at our work organisational chart.

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Deputy Manager

To staff the bus to make sure there are enough staff on the bus according to the ratio and to sort out shifts. Support the staff working on the bus and making sure they are all aware of the policies and procedures on the bus.

Manager

To manage and supply the bus with toys and equipment. Supports staff. Make sure the bus environment is safe for the children to play. Make sure all staff are aware of the policies and procedures on the bus.

Senior Playworker

To provide high care and stimulation for all children attending the play scheme. Support and direct other staff as appropriate. Plan play opportunities for children and create programme of activities. Provide opportunities for children to develop individually through play. Take part in play with children. Maintain children’s safety throughout play. Respond to injuries and signs of illness. Respond to the safety of the play environment.

Senior Playworker

To provide high care and stimulation for all children attending the play scheme. Support and direct other staff as appropriate. Plan play opportunities for children and create programme of activities. Provide opportunities for children to develop individually through play. Take part in play with children. Maintain children’s safety throughout play. Respond to injuries and signs of illness. Respond to the safety of the play environment.

Playworker

To provide high care and stimulation for all children. Supervise, lead and assist children in activities and games whilst encouraging good behaviour in line with club policies. Assist with serving refreshments to children, take responsibility along with other staff for the health and safety, accident prevention and smooth running of emergency procedures for both children and other members of staff. Be aware of the clubs safeguarding policy.

Playworker

To provide high care and stimulation for all children. Supervise, lead and assist children in activities and games whilst encouraging good behaviour in line with club policies. Assist with serving refreshments to children, take responsibility along with other staff for the health and safety, accident prevention and smooth running of emergency procedures for both children and other members of staff. Be aware of the clubs safeguarding policy.

Students/Volunteers

To learn from others and gain experience in working in a after school club or a summer club.