Category And Type Of Play

Cognitive Play

What is Cognitive Play ?

Functional play

constructive play

PIAGETS STAGES OF PLAY

playing games with rules

symbolic play

Functional Play

characterizes by repetitions, manipulations, and self-imitation activity that is done simply for the enjoyment of the physical sensation it creates the child engages in simple motor activities (e.g. repetitive motor movements with or without objects) Specific examples are climbing on gym equipment; pouring water from one container to another; jumping on and off a chair; making faces; singing or dancing for non-dramatic reasons; ringing bells and buzzers

Functional Play
Piaget described functional play (which he also called practice play and
exercise play) this way: The child sooner or later (often even during the learning period) grasps for the pleasure of grasping, swings [a suspended object] for the sake of swinging. etc. In a word, he repeats his behavior not in any further effort to learn or to investigate, but for the mere joy or mastering it and showing off to himself his own power of subduing reality.

Symbolic Play

children freely display their creative and physical abilities and social awareness in a number of ways

for example, by pretending to be something else, such as animal.

also occurs when children pretend that one object is another (that a building block is a car) and may also entail pretending to be another person (a mummy, daddy or caregiver)

As toddlers and preschoolers grow older, their symbolic play becomes more elaborate and involved

Play Games with Rules

begins around age of seven or eight children learn to play within rules and limits and adjust their behavior
accordingly, and can make and follow social agreements

Games with rules are very comfortable in middle childhood and adulthood. the child accepts prearranged rules, adjusts to them and controls his/her
actions and reactions within the given limits

There must be an element of competition either between the focal child and
other children, or with him/herself

Constructive Play
manipulation of objects for the purpose of constructing or creating
something

characterized by children engaging in play activities in order to construct

their knowledge of the world

They first manipulate play materials and then use these materials to create
and build things (a sand castle, a block building, a grocery store) and experiment with the ways things go together

quite similar to functional play For example, pounding on playdough for the sensory experience of the
pounding is considered to be functional play. However, pounding for the purpose of making a pancake is coded as constructive.

Summary
TYPE Functional play (practice play) CHARACTERISTIC Uses repetitive muscle movement, with or without objects (e.g., running, filling, hammering)

Symbolic Play

Uses imagination and role play to transform the self and

(pretend play)

objectives and to satisfy needs. Pretend to take care for a

sick animal (role play). Pretends to take a shower (arm movements).

Play Games with Rules

Recognizes, accepts, and adapts to predetermined rules

that are goal-oriented

Constructive Play

manipulates objects or materials (e.g., blocks, wood, collage) to make something.