The Power and Pleasures of Play
The Birmingham Early Years Networks was pleased to host a session led by Professor Tina Bruce (CBE) and Professor Chris Pascal (OBE) on reflective pedagogy, exploring the “Power and Pleasures of Play”.
Chris and Tina presented their recent research funded by The Froebel Trust, which led to the development of a reflective tool called Reflection with Guidance.
The session described the Reflection with Guidance Toolkit and introduced a key element that invites practitioners to reflect on the deep importance of play and how it can be observed in children’s explorations from their earliest days.
Participants were also introduced to the Layers of Play Framework — a resource designed to support ‘play-full analysis’ of young children; featuring tables that help you to decide what you are observing and how best you might support and extend the child’s development and learning.
Here, Chris Pascal shares her thoughts on the importance of reflective pedagogy and the importance of play.
Purposeful Practice Through Reflection and Play
Reflection on, in, and for practice is an essential aspect of professional life when working with young children and families.
Play is an essential element for wellbeing, life fulfilment and flourishment for adults and, especially, children.
Facilitating and practising both activities (Reflection and Play) enables a critical and empowering stance to your own, and others’, actions and enables thoughtful and deep-level development for both yourself and the child.
It is a real privilege and joy to step away from doing, to observe children’s play-full and learning-full world, and then think critically about what you do, see and feel.
By doing so, you will understand and know the child and the world you share more completely, and will be able to manage the complexity of that shared pedagogic life more effectively when you re-enter that world.
Action without reflection is directionless — action with reflection is purposeful and full of promise!
More information about the Froebel Partnership and supporting material can be found on the Froebel Partnership website.
Feedback from practitioners who attended the session live
“Play is so powerful! Play enables every child to be unique and has no limits. We can build a culture around play and use the tools to look into how we can most skilfully facilitate it.”
“Reinforcing my personal pedagogy and motivating me to continue working in a ‘playful’ way.”
“So amazing and inspiring!”
“Opportunities to share layers of play with colleagues. Will help practitioners to think about how their children are progressing in their play and learning. Enable the team to be more reflective.”
“More like this, please!”
Missed the live session?
If you weren’t able to join us live, don’t worry, we’ve got a recording of the session for our subscribers (keep an eye on your inboxes!)
Not signed up yet? Register today, and then email us at info@birminghamearlyyearsnetworks.org and we’ll share the recording with you.
