Compare and contrast your posts, provide additional detail on how you can promote continuous development through the stages. Suggest modifications, accommodations, and alternative activities when working with children with learning differences. 5 sentences or more.
Picture # 2
The stage of MacDonald’s Stage of block play is “Stage Three” (Ages 3-4). He is able to build things that represent something, such as a building, castle, bridge, house, roads, etc. I chose this stage because I find this stage fun, I can interact with the child and ask him what he is making, I can take pictures of his structures and give him the language to learn new things. The skills associated with this stage of play is small muscle development, eye-hand coordination, sizes, and shapes, length, patterns, weight and how to create something. A child is also learning how to follow classroom rules, how to play well with others, and how to resolve conflicts. By asking questions he is learning how to express himself, participate in conversations and learn new vocabulary words.
When playing with blocks children are using both their small and large physical abilities which will help them with writing, drawing, climbing, because he is building those muscles needed for other areas of his development. By comparing, measuring, classifying, awareness of position and space he is learning cognitively. Constructive play first appears in early childhood and continues into adulthood. Sensorimotor activity is combined with a preconceived plan and creativity. The child has moved from handling objects and materials to constructing or building something (Frost, J., Wortham, S., & Reifel, S. (2011).
My understanding of block play will help me to understand what he is learning and developing. It will help me to sit down with him and interact with him to expand his thinking. I will be able to add materials to the block area to enhance the activity such as people, cars, trucks, signs, and animals.
For children with learning differences I would add books, pictures, and other types of blocks. Blocks that are hollow or large cardboard blocks help for easy stacking. Pictures and books will help them to cognitively think about what they are making.
References
Frost, J., Wortham, S., & Reifel, S. (2011). Play and child development. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill/Prentice-Hall.