My alert systems went berserk to say the least – PLAY is not just enjoyable waste of time, to a child PLAY is their business, PLAY is their way of exploring; PLAY is how children learn. If I had to label all the things that happen at playgroup to inform parents how their child is learning, I would run out of labels.

Take playdough for instance: do they realise…

• how many muscles are developing in those little hands while they are manipulating playdough?
• how using playdough prepares a child to be able to hold a pencil and to begin to write?
• how they are developing hand/eye co-ordination and fine motor skills while using playdough?
• how the five senses are developing from the colours and shapes, feel and texture, smell, taste (yuk!) and even
• the squish, pound and thump of manipulating playdough?

And that’s not to mention all the other things that they are learning and exploring at playgroup. If parents could see those labels, perhaps they wouldn?t look at playgroup as just an enjoyable waste of time. It also makes me wonder, if parents go for “educational” activities, what are their children missing out on? Are they really preparing their child for an educational future or has their child missed an important step in life? Play also stimulates the imagination and creativity, and lays the foundations for lateral thinking capabilities.

TO ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO RUN PLAYGROUPS AND ORGANISE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN TO LEARN THROUGH PLAY, THANKYOU

by Kathy Blazewicz

Communities for Children Initiative Funded by the Australian Government
UnitingCare Wesley Pt Adelaide at Seaton Central

Family Facilitator – Woodville Uniting Church
Featured in KUCA News Winter 200

When: Saturday 11th September 2010
Where: Epping Ministry Centre
Suite 101 (Level 1) 3 Carlingford Rd Epping NSW 2121
Time: 8.30-12.30pm
with opportunity for a brainstorming session during/after lunch.
Speaker: Brian Winslade. 
Dr Brian Winslade is the National Director of the Baptist Union of Australia and director of Crossover, the evangelistic arm of Australian Baptist Churches.
Cost: $15 without lunch, or $25 with lunch.

Download the Playtime Equipping Day Flyer and Registration form

1 cup salt
2 cups plain flour
2 Tablespoons cooking oil
2 Tablespoons Cream of Tartar
2 cups boiling water
food colouring if required

Method: Combine ingredients (except water) in a bowl. Pour the boiling water in and stir. Knead lightly on a table top. Store in plastic bag – will keep for weeks.

Microwave Playdough

2 cups plain flour
1 cup salt
1 tablespoon Cream of Tartar
2 cups cold water
1 tablespoon cooking oil
food colouring if required

Method: Beat ingredients together well, place in large bowl, cover and cook 4 – 5 minutes on high. Knead into a ball when cooled. Store in a plastic bag – will keep for months.

Uncooked Playdough

1 cup salt
½ cup water
1 ½ cups plain flour
2 tablespoon cooking oil
food colouring

Method: Mix all together, knead until smooth. Will keep a few days in plastic bag in fridge.

Stretchy Playdough

½ kg self-raising flour
250 ml water

Method: Mix together then knead until smooth. Will not keep.

Baking Playdough (Not edible)

½ cup salt
1 cup flour
¾ cup water
glycerine

Method: Mix flour and salt in bowl, add water gradually to make a stiff dough. Add more flour to avoid stickiness. Add 2 drops glycerine for a really smooth dough. Can be made into shapes and
baked on a low heat for 1-2 hours to make decorations.

Bumpy Playdough (for 3D pictures)

¾ cup plain flour
¼ cup salt
water
powder paint
several containers for colours
cardboard for base

Method: Make dough with first 3 ingredients. Put different colours of powder paint in containers and divide dough into portions and add to paint. To make 3D pictures, shape different coloured doughs before sticking it onto to the cardboard.

Playclay

1 cup cornflour
1 ½ cups cold water
2 cups bicarbonate of soda

Method: Mix until smooth in microwave safe bowl, then microwave on high for 4 – 5 minutes stirring occasionally until it looks like mashed potatoes. Cover with a damp cloth and allow to cool then knead. Use as a modelling clay to make small objects and decorations. Don’t forget to add holes to decorations to be hung. Dry by leaving a few days on a foam tray, then paint. Mixture will keep in a plastic bag in the fridge.

Cornflour Slime

2 cups cornflour
few drops of food colouring
water

Method: Add water gradually until you have a smooth, runny mixture which can be dribbled on paper to make pictures or just played with for fun. If pushed down it should feel solid, if allowed to pour it should appear to flow like a liquid.

Cornflour Glue

2 tablespoons cornflour
2 tablespoons cold water
1 cup boiling water

Method: In a bowl mix cornflour and cold water to a thin paste. Then add boiling water and stir very fast. It should form a white glue like Clag. If it fails to do so, put mixture in the microwave for a minute on high and stir vigorously again.

The stories are told very simply, with simple props, and without interpretation or moral instruction. After a story is presented, the children and the storyteller wonder together about aspects of the story that draw their interest.

For more information go to the website: http://www.godlyplay.org/