BTEC Level1/Level2
Promoting child development trough play Aliya Hussain
Understanding and developing play opportunities for children
2/2A.P1: Describe how children play at each age range, using
appropriate examples.
2/2A.P2: Describe how adults in early years support children’s play
at each age range, using appropriate examples.
2/2B.P3: Describe play opportunities for each age range and how
development will be promoted, using appropriate examples.
2/2A.M1: Explain the importance of the support provided by settings
adults in early years settings for children’s play at each age range.
2/2B.M2: Explain how two selected play opportunities for each age
range promote different areas of child development.
2/2C.M3:discuss the extent to which the way play is structured in an
early years setting may benefit children’s development.
2/2A.D1: Assess the suitability of the support provided by adults for
children in an early years setting, using a case study.
2/2B.D2: Assess the value of two selected play opportunities on all
areas of a child’s development.
2/2C.D3: Assess the effect on a child’s development of the way play
is structured in an early years setting, using a case study.
How children play at each
age range
2/2A.P1: Describe how children play at each age range, using
appropriate examples.
How children play from birth to 2 years
Repeating play
1
,BTEC Level1/Level2
Promoting child development trough play Aliya Hussain
Children from birth up to 2 years enjoy repeating play. This is when babies
and toddlers find something they really like and enjoy watching for example in
case study 1 there are two toddlers that are building a tower with wooden
building blocks then they are also knocking down the tower and laughing.
Because they enjoy watching the tower being knocked over they would build it
again and knock it over repeatedly
Reliance on adults
Children from birth to 2 years old would also be very reliant on adults. In this
age range children like playing with adults, toddlers normally enjoy playing
with building blocks or enjoy listening to adult reading a book. In case study
one the toddlers are building a tower out of building block with an adult. They
are reliant on the adult because they pick up a block and give it to the adult to
put it on top of the tower when they cannot reach.
Moving and touching
Babies and toddlers enjoy touching things with their hands, until they are 18
months they like to use their mouth as well. This is called mouthing. Babies
and toddlers like to touch, open and hold new items. They enjoy exploring
their surrounding environment. In case study one the toddlers are touching the
block and feeling the blocks with their hands. Also in the case study the pre-
school children are exploring outdoors and playing on the slide.
How children play from 2 up to 5 year
Being with other children
Children in this age range like being with other children. At first children like
play side by side but from around 3 years old they start playing together; then
they start to talk to each other take turns and share toys. This is called
cooperative play. By the age of 4 years old most children are really good with
playing with other children and they start to enjoy each other’s company. In
the case study, there are three pre-school in the role-play and are taking turns
this is an example of cooperative play.
More complex play
From around the age of 4 children start to enjoy more complex play for
example climbing, balancing and also throwing and kicking balls. This is
because their physical skills have developed, this allows them to explore and
discover new things. In case study one some pre-school children are playing
2
, BTEC Level1/Level2
Promoting child development trough play Aliya Hussain
out doors on the slide. This is an example of complex play because they are
climbing up then sliding down the slide.
Talk during play
Talk during play is also another thing that affects children’s play in language.
From 2 years old children talk to themselves and most of the things they say
my not be easy to understand. As children’s speech become clearer, they use
language increasingly during imaginative and constructive play. In case study
one a group of children are in the role-play area taking turns to say something.
This is developing their speech and language development because they are
leaning new words from each other.
Adult supervision and support
Even though children play well together they still need the support of adults.
Children enjoy showing adults what they are doing gain encouragement and
reassurance. In addition, adults should supervise children during play to keep
them safe. In case study one there is an adult near the slide and watching the
children take turns using the slide and reminding them to hold on as they
climb up the steps and sit down when they use the slide, this is an example of
adult supervision and support.
How children play from 5 up to 8 years
Becoming more independent
Children at ages 5-8 become more independent. They enjoy making decisions
about what they want to play and whom they want to play with. They can most
of the times play for long periods without any adult help. However, adults do
need to keep an eye on children to see what they are doing and to make sure
their safe. In case study one children are out doors playing on the slide and
there is an adult stood near the slide, the children are climbing the slide by
themselves so this is an example of children becoming more independent.
Making up rules
A feature of this age range is that children make up rules to make their play
more interesting. For example, they might have a password someone would
have to say before play with them. Children might make up rules like to only
allow people who they like to play with them.
Increasing complex play
As well as making challenging rules during play, children’s play at this age
range becomes more complex. For example, they might play with small toys
like Lego, or might enjoy outdoor play such as obstacle course or play games
with a ball that may require higher level of skills. In case study one children
3
Promoting child development trough play Aliya Hussain
Understanding and developing play opportunities for children
2/2A.P1: Describe how children play at each age range, using
appropriate examples.
2/2A.P2: Describe how adults in early years support children’s play
at each age range, using appropriate examples.
2/2B.P3: Describe play opportunities for each age range and how
development will be promoted, using appropriate examples.
2/2A.M1: Explain the importance of the support provided by settings
adults in early years settings for children’s play at each age range.
2/2B.M2: Explain how two selected play opportunities for each age
range promote different areas of child development.
2/2C.M3:discuss the extent to which the way play is structured in an
early years setting may benefit children’s development.
2/2A.D1: Assess the suitability of the support provided by adults for
children in an early years setting, using a case study.
2/2B.D2: Assess the value of two selected play opportunities on all
areas of a child’s development.
2/2C.D3: Assess the effect on a child’s development of the way play
is structured in an early years setting, using a case study.
How children play at each
age range
2/2A.P1: Describe how children play at each age range, using
appropriate examples.
How children play from birth to 2 years
Repeating play
1
,BTEC Level1/Level2
Promoting child development trough play Aliya Hussain
Children from birth up to 2 years enjoy repeating play. This is when babies
and toddlers find something they really like and enjoy watching for example in
case study 1 there are two toddlers that are building a tower with wooden
building blocks then they are also knocking down the tower and laughing.
Because they enjoy watching the tower being knocked over they would build it
again and knock it over repeatedly
Reliance on adults
Children from birth to 2 years old would also be very reliant on adults. In this
age range children like playing with adults, toddlers normally enjoy playing
with building blocks or enjoy listening to adult reading a book. In case study
one the toddlers are building a tower out of building block with an adult. They
are reliant on the adult because they pick up a block and give it to the adult to
put it on top of the tower when they cannot reach.
Moving and touching
Babies and toddlers enjoy touching things with their hands, until they are 18
months they like to use their mouth as well. This is called mouthing. Babies
and toddlers like to touch, open and hold new items. They enjoy exploring
their surrounding environment. In case study one the toddlers are touching the
block and feeling the blocks with their hands. Also in the case study the pre-
school children are exploring outdoors and playing on the slide.
How children play from 2 up to 5 year
Being with other children
Children in this age range like being with other children. At first children like
play side by side but from around 3 years old they start playing together; then
they start to talk to each other take turns and share toys. This is called
cooperative play. By the age of 4 years old most children are really good with
playing with other children and they start to enjoy each other’s company. In
the case study, there are three pre-school in the role-play and are taking turns
this is an example of cooperative play.
More complex play
From around the age of 4 children start to enjoy more complex play for
example climbing, balancing and also throwing and kicking balls. This is
because their physical skills have developed, this allows them to explore and
discover new things. In case study one some pre-school children are playing
2
, BTEC Level1/Level2
Promoting child development trough play Aliya Hussain
out doors on the slide. This is an example of complex play because they are
climbing up then sliding down the slide.
Talk during play
Talk during play is also another thing that affects children’s play in language.
From 2 years old children talk to themselves and most of the things they say
my not be easy to understand. As children’s speech become clearer, they use
language increasingly during imaginative and constructive play. In case study
one a group of children are in the role-play area taking turns to say something.
This is developing their speech and language development because they are
leaning new words from each other.
Adult supervision and support
Even though children play well together they still need the support of adults.
Children enjoy showing adults what they are doing gain encouragement and
reassurance. In addition, adults should supervise children during play to keep
them safe. In case study one there is an adult near the slide and watching the
children take turns using the slide and reminding them to hold on as they
climb up the steps and sit down when they use the slide, this is an example of
adult supervision and support.
How children play from 5 up to 8 years
Becoming more independent
Children at ages 5-8 become more independent. They enjoy making decisions
about what they want to play and whom they want to play with. They can most
of the times play for long periods without any adult help. However, adults do
need to keep an eye on children to see what they are doing and to make sure
their safe. In case study one children are out doors playing on the slide and
there is an adult stood near the slide, the children are climbing the slide by
themselves so this is an example of children becoming more independent.
Making up rules
A feature of this age range is that children make up rules to make their play
more interesting. For example, they might have a password someone would
have to say before play with them. Children might make up rules like to only
allow people who they like to play with them.
Increasing complex play
As well as making challenging rules during play, children’s play at this age
range becomes more complex. For example, they might play with small toys
like Lego, or might enjoy outdoor play such as obstacle course or play games
with a ball that may require higher level of skills. In case study one children
3
