1) Play is a universal phenomenon that has been recognized by early childhood educators as making a significant contribution to young children's development. It is the leading source of development in the early years and is essential to children's optimal development. 2) However, play is undervalued and children's opportunities for free play are threatened as they spend more time in structured activities with little time for self-initiated play. Access to outdoor play in natural environments is also vanishing. 3) The article emphasizes that play is a meaningful experience that children engage in deeply and take very seriously, and that its sociocultural context is important for understanding children's pretend play in diverse societies.

1. Lenguas Extranjeras Institutos Normales de Montevideo- C.F.E- reading 5
LET THE CHILDREN PLAY:
Nature´s answer to Early Learning ( total marks 12)
Name of the student: …………………………………
By Jane Hewes, PhD Chair of the Early Childhood Education Program, Grant MacEwan
College Edmonton, Alberta, Canada ( adapted version)
Play is a universal phenomenon with a pervasive and enduring presence in human
history. Play has fascinated philosophers, painters, and poets for generations.
Early childhood educators have long recognized the power of play. The significant
contribution of play to young´s children development is well documented in child
psychology, anthropology, sociology, and in the theoretical frameworks of education,
recreation, and communications. Being able to play is one of the key developmental
tasks of early childhood. Play is the leading source of development in the early years: it
is essential to children´s optimal development.
Ironically, play is persistently undervalued, and children´s opportunities for interrupted
free play- both indoors and out- are under threat. Many children are spending
substantial time in peer- group settings from a very young age. Many of these settings
focus on structured educational and recreational activities, leaving little time for
participation in open-ended, self-initiated free play.
Children´s play advocates are concerned that access to outdoor play opportunities in
natural environments in neighborhoods is vanishing. Technology, traffic, and urban
land-use patterns have changed the natural play territory of childhood. Parents are
increasingly concerned about safety and children find themselves in carefully
constructed outdoor playgrounds that limit challenge in the name of safety.
Prof. Mtra. Graciela Bilat

2. Lenguas Extranjeras Institutos Normales de Montevideo- C.F.E- reading 5
Almost any adult you meet can recall a pleasurable childhood play experience, often
in rich and vivid detail. Play is a meaningful and important experience. It is also
tremendously satisfying for children. Anyone who has spent any time watching children
play knows they engage deeply and they take their play very seriously.
Recent research emphasizes the importance of interpreting children´s pretend play
within a social and cultural context. The sociocultural context is important in informing
practice in diverse societies such as Canada. Cultures have different attitudes and
values about play. Children find it difficult to engage in pretend play if the props and
settings are unfamiliar. In a culturally sensitive context, play has the potential to bridge
between cultures . It is important for adults to respond to children´s interpretations of
diversity in their play.
“ Young children learn the most important things not by being told but by constructing
knowledge for themselves in interaction with the physical world and with other children-and
Source: Jones, E., and Reynolds, G. ( 1992) The play ´s the thing: Teacher´s roles in children´s play, p.1
Prof. Mtra. Graciela Bilat
the way they do this is by playing.”
1. Select the most appropriate title for each paragraph:
a. PLAY IS AN IMPORTANT CHILDHOOD ACTIVITY.
b. CHILDREN´S OPPORTUNITIES TO PLAY UNDER THREAT.
c. PLAY AND DIVERSITY.
d. PLAY IS ESSENTIAL FOR OPTIMAL DEVELOPMENT. 2marks( ½ each)
2. Explain and give your opinion about the quote at the end of the article. ( 3 marks)
3. Vocabulary:Match similar meaning
ESSENTIAL INVESTIGATION
UNDERVALUED DISSAPEARING
VANISHING REMEMBER
RECALL VERY IMPORTANT
RESEARCH LESS IMPORTANT
3 maks ( 1/2 each)

3. Lenguas Extranjeras Institutos Normales de Montevideo- C.F.E- reading 5
4. Write T (TRUE) or F ( FALSE)
a. Playing is essential for children´s development
b. Educators must leave time to children to participate in play.
c. Nowadays, children have less opportunities to play in a natural environment.
d. Parents are very concerned about safety. 2 marks (1/2 each)
5. Think and write two questions that check reading comprehension 2 marks
Prof. Mtra. Graciela Bilat