3.1 Why is play important?

Life orientation

Grade 8

Physical development and movement

Module 16

Why is play important?

Activity 3:

To make you aware of the value of games or play

[lo 4.4]

Why is play important?

Both humans and animals have a natural desire to play. Most of us have kittens or puppies at home. The kitten chases a ball of wool and catches it, hits it back and forth with its paws; the puppy jumps at a slipper, gnaws at it and growls angrily when you want to take it away from him.

One can go so far as to say that play is nature’s way of preparing the young of a certain species for life. The young one learns through play – and by playing the young animal or child develops its muscles and physical skills. By playing as part of a group the young child also learns to interact in a group and to develop social skills.

What happens when a child plays? The child is relieved of all the excess energy in a constructive manner and becomes fit. When children play together, they acquire an esprit de corps, a sense of fairness, daring and resourcefulness.

How does one then define “playing” or “play”? Is it as simple as “everything that we do because that is what we want to do, and we enjoy it”? Play can be structured or unstructured – with or without rules.

Answer the following questions:

1. Explain the concept “play” (the noun) in your own words.

2. How do the young of animals learn to stalk their prey, or guard their meal?

3. Supply two examples of how a young child learns through play.

4. Choose one of your classmates and discuss examples of informal, unstructured play, as well as examples of structured play (e.g. rugby, skipping). Write down at least four examples.

5. What do you regard to be the most important differences between structured and unstructured play.

6. Arrange to have a class debate on the issue of school sport .

• One speaker can have the following point of view: “School sport should be privatised and only the learners who have the talent to play sport, and take an interest in it, should be allowed to belong to such clubs.”
• Another speaker can defend the traditions and value of school sport.
• Each above-mentioned speaker has a second speaker to help defend the respective points of view.
• The class will vote once all the speakers have made their speeches.
• The class should appoint a chairperson before the proceedings start, so that the rules of debating and the class discipline are not undermined.
• It is suggested that a language teacher be asked to run through the finer points of debating procedure with you before you start with this assignment.
• Skills that are relevant here are debating, listening, and summmarising main points.

7. Write down the main points of each of the speakers’ speeches. This will motivate you to listen attentively and also to consider the merits of each argument thoroughly before you cast your vote.

• School sport should be privatized
• School sport is valuable because _________

8. This assignment can be used for assessment. Knowledge and insight are relevant here.

a) List the advantages of play for both humans and animals.

b) Choose any activity that you think contains all the physical components to be regarded as “play”. Now write clear instructions on how to “play this game”, and comment on the value of the activity. Once you have finished writing, the teacher may ask you to demonstrate or explain this activity. Be very exact in explaining the activity. Write short sentences.

Name of “game” __________________________

Details

[lo 4.4]

Assessment

Learning outcomes (LOs)

LO 1

Health promotion

The learner will be able to make informed decisions regarding personal, community and environmental health.

We know this when the learner:

1.3 describes what a healthy lifestyle is in own personal situation, as a way to prevent disease.

LO 4

Physical development and movement

The learner will be able to demonstrate an understanding of, and participate in, activities that promote movement and physical development.

We know this when the learner:

4.1 plans and participates in as adventurous recreational outdoor activity;

4.4 designs and plays target games;

4.5 investigates and reports on gender equity issues in a variety of athletic and sport activities.