By Conner Toffan - CHATNewsToday

CHILDREN'S HEALTH

Early childhood educators learning the importance of play

Mar 31, 2019 | 1:24 PM

MEDICINE HAT — The Medicine Hat and District Child Care Association celebrated their 30-year anniversary on Saturday afternoon at the Medicine Hat College by teaching early childhood educators how to teach their students most effectively.

An early childhood educator can be in a school, daycare or anyone instructing children aged 0-12.

“We really need our early childhood educators to be really knowledgeable and up to date on what’s best practice with early childhood,” said Jennifer Usher, Coordinator of The Medicine Hat and District Child Care Association.

Launa Clark, who has taught students from preschool to university, believes the best way for children to learn, is to play. Today she was a keynote speaker at the conference.

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“It’s absolutely the best way they learn. Their developing brain is so complex and it’s happening so fast that the best way is to let them be motivated by their own thoughts and actions,” said Clark.

However, playing to Clark doesn’t mean sitting down and playing Fortnite.

“I’m talking about that relational based play. When you’re with someone, when you’re looking in the eyes, when you can do a little bit of rough and tumble, when there’s a dynamic of true human-to-human connection and playfulness.”

This kind of playing is what Clark believes can set the foundation to build the rest of a child’s life.

“In those early years we’re really talking about that foundational play that sets the ground for education, language, social confidence, self-esteem, mental health, all those things,” said Clark, “play isn’t the enemy of learning. Play is who we’re meant to be and it’s the best way to connect with others.”

As for Usher, who is an early childhood educator herself, she believes that other educators and herself left the event with an increased capacity to care for children.

“It really makes them more prepared for that challenging job they have,” she said.