Learning Language through Play in Preschool
Literacy and Language is Enhanced by Directed and Undirected Play
Play can bolster language and literacy in two ways, according to Jan Z. Olsen, OTR creator of “Get Set for School”, a pre-kindergarten curriculum based on playful learning techniques. The first way is simply having a language rich environment so that play includes lots of talking, reading and singing. The second, but very effective, way to boost literacy is to use consistent language for teaching.
“Consistent language means that teachers use the same words that children know. It makes it easy for children to understand the teacher and follow directions. In addition to size and shape words, we also teach position words through play,” says Olsen. For example, when playing with wooden pieces, while the children play, they use and learn important position words like up and down, under and over, in and out, in front or in back.
Meghan McGinley Crowe, Executive Director of Literacy for Little Sprouts, Inc. explains that helping a preschooler become comfortable to try new language and practice pragmatics is best done through play and teaches not only vocabulary, but grammar, sentence structure, and usage.
“Every time a preschooler makes a word past tense like ‘standed’ or plural like ‘feets’, it is proof that they are playing with language rules and have learned how to generically by adding a suffix to a word they already know,” says Crowe.
Although this is incorrect, it proves a child is not just mimicking an adult, but rather truly experimenting with language. Preschool teachers and daycare providers should encourage this practice while gently modeling the correct version of the word.
Keys to Early Literacy Development
“Scaffolding Early Literacy through Play” [Bedrova, et al, 1999], a paper presented at a National Association for the Education of Young Children conference, asserts that play promotes four critical skills that are key to early literacy development:
- Underlying cognitive skills (the ability to think deliberately)
- Oral language
- Development of symbolic representation
- Content related literacy concepts and skills
Activities to Enhance Language and Literacy
- Provide music and movement activities in order to introduce new terms, directions, places and roles
- Keep a large library of predictable books to help children learn repetitive patterns of language
- Vary dramatic play area themes and multifunctional props so that children learn new vocabulary and engage in symbolic play
- Offer letter and picture matching games
Through personal interaction, well designed play opportunities, and undirected play, children expand their language and literacy skills. This helps them make a smooth transition to kindergarten. For more information, see Learning Through Play in Preschool.
