There has been an abundance of research around play and its positive effects on early childhood learning and development. In general, research shows strong links between creative play and language, physical, cognitive, and social development. Play is a healthy, essential part of childhood. Infants explore their world through their senses while adults in their world foster their development and learning through playing games with them. Toddlers engage in pretend play when they imitate actions and events they have experienced in their family life. As they grow into four and five year olds, young children engage more and more in play activities that expand their knowledge of the world around them, develop their motor skills, and focus on their peers.

For more information on the research around the importance of play, please read the Literature Review prepared by the Early Childhood Learning Division, Department of Education, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. You may also find the following articles, resources and videos of interest.

• Questions and Answers
• Articles
• The Power of Play Posters
• Resources
• Play Campaign
• Videos

Articles

• Play
• Play Counts (6.8 MB)
• Jouer ça compte! (7.1 MB)

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The Power of Play Posters

English

• Mark – Future Air Traffic Controller (569 KB)
• Manian – Future Carpenter (415 KB)
• Ephraim – Future Accountant (456 KB)
• Logan – Future Hotelier (3.0 MB)
• Sophie – Future Scientist (3.5 MB)
• Manian – Carpenter (675 KB)
• Mark – Air Traffic Controller (699 KB)
• Sofie – Scientist (690 KB)

French

• Logan – Futur hôtelier (2.7 MB)
• Sophie – Future scientifique (3.2 MB)
• Logan – Hôtelier (469 KB)
• Manian – Charpentière (441 KB)
• Mark – Contrôleur Aérian (483 KB)
• Sophie – Scientifique (467 KB)

Innu Aman

• Manian – Aishkat kamanutshesht (688 KB)
• Ephraim – Aishkat shunianu ka nutshitasht ka itatussesht (1.0 MB)
• Manian – Kamanutshesht (704 KB)

Inuttut

• Ephraim – Kenaujaligijitsak (3.1 MB)

 

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Resources

• Child’s Play
• Le Jeu
• Why Play?
• Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development (CEECD)
• Every Day I Learn Through Play (4.3 MB)
• CMEC Statement on Play-Based Learning
• Déclaration du CMEC sur l’apprentissage par le jeu
• Supporting Your Child Through Play: Everyday Games for Parents and Caregivers (532 KB)
• A Parent is a Child’s First Teacher! (1003 KB)
• Les parents sont les premiers enseignants des enfants! (1.2 MB)
• Full-Day Kindergarten Play-Based Learning: Promoting a Common Understanding (4 MB)
• Maternelle à temps plein – Apprentissage par le jeu : Promouvoir une compréhension commune

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Play Campaign

• Power of Play TV Commercial (4.9 MB)
• Noah and Tara – Radio Ad (736 KB)
• Power of Play Questions and Answers  (1.9 MB)
• Power of Play 1
• Power of Play 2
• Power of Play 3
• Power of Play – Radio Ad v2 (1.2 MB)
• Power of Play – Sounds of Play (1.1 MB)
• Power of Play – General (1.1 MB)
• Power of Play – Literacy (1.1 MB)

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Videos

• The Importance of Play
• Investigating…

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