09. Exploring How Play Builds Young Minds
from Sparking Conversations on Culturally Responsive Childcare Hosted by Spark Team
What can we learn about children’s thinking when they play? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Ozlem Cankaya, Associate Professor in Early Learning and Curriculum Studies at MacEwan University, to explore the connection between play and children’s cognitive development. Dr. Cankaya shares how pretend play and loose parts can support language, problem-solving, self-regulation, and flexible thinking. We also talk about how play looks different across cultures and why educators need to observe closely to decide when children need uninterrupted time, a new material, or a little more guidance. Listeners will walk away with a deeper understanding of what children are learning through play and practical ways to observe, support, and extend play without taking over the experience. Mentioned in episode: Cognition – The mental process of developing, processing, and using knowledge. M.C Esher’s Water and Sky Painting – To see the painting Dr. Cankaya used in her undergraduate research, click here. Loose parts play – Open-ended objects that children can move, combine, build with, and transform in many creative ways. Loose parts play and STEM skills – To read Dr. Ozlem Cankaya’s full research paper Loose parts play encourages spontaneous science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) behaviours click here.
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