What is play? - Carson Street School

PLAY SPACE MODEL PLAY STRATEGIES FOR THE CHILD
MOVEOpportunity for participation during play
Participation is defined as the nature and extent of a child’s involvement in activities.
Children’s emerging play types and stages can be enhanced by sensitive and aware
play partners who help the child develop their potential by promoting the child’s
participation in the play activity, not by doing everything for them. Participation in an
activity can be categorised into three levels:
1. Observer participation - The child does not actively participate in the activity
but observes the play activity.
2. Partial participation - The child participates in one or more steps in the play
activity but does not necessarily do all the steps.
3. Complete participation - The child participates in the entire play activity with
or without support.
Depending on the play activity the child can engage as an observer or partial or
complete participant. You can help the child move through the levels, by gradually
increasing the child’s level of participation i.e. the length of time spent playing or
number of steps the child carries out in the play activity.
Playing with a train set
Level 1 –Jenny observes mum setting Level 2- Mum sets up the train track, then
the train tracks and playing with the train. Jenny puts the train on the track and drives it.
Level 3 - Jenny sets up the track,
assembles the train and drives it along the track