Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Instructional Materials and Games for Learning English in Early Childhood Education

Learning Across the Curriculum

• Children learn through play experiences

• Children learn about themselves, environment as well as people in their lives.

• To solve problems

• Develop body control

• Practice social skills

• Express their creativity

Physical Development

• To build muscle control

• Strength

• Body awareness

• Balance

• Dexterity

Language Development

• Providing children with age-appropriate toys gives them unique and interesting topics to talk about

• Books and recordings help children appreciate words, literature, and music and pretend play objects encourage children to talk with each other

Social-Emotional

• Children learn to cooperate, negotiate, take turns, and obey rules through play

• When children put on dress-up clothes, they learn to express themselves and to be comfortable in different roles, which in turn leads to self-expression and socialization opportunities

Cognitive

• Toys and materials that promote active learning motivate children to pursue their own ideas and interests enthusiastically

• Many toys, for example, encourage children’s interest in concepts like same/different, patterned/planned, classifying, and sorting.

Infants (Birth – 18 months)

Toddlers (18 months – 35 months)

Preschoolers (3 – 5 years old)

School Age (6-12 years old)

Use of Games for ECE

• cooperative games work especially well with young kindergarteners—in which students work together to see what they can achieve

Here is why cooperative games work well at this age:

• They keep students active; young kids cannot sit still for too long.

• They let everyone be involved; no one is left out.

• They allow shyer kids to feel safe, since everyone is working together

• They are repetitive, and that familiarity also helps kids feel safe and knowledgeable

• They can be unsophisticated. It will not bother your students if the game is obviously made up—it is still fun!