Song: May Tatlong Bear

May tatlong bear sa loob ngisang bahay,

Si PAPA bear, si MAMA bear, si BABY bear

Si PAPA bear ay malakasSi MAMA bear ay magandaSi BABY bear ay napakaliksi

Tingnan niyo, tingnan niyo, angsaya nila (2x)

PlayScales, et al., (1991) called play "that absorbing activity in which healthy young children participate with enthusiasm and abandon" (p. 15).Csikszentmihalyi (1981) described play as "a subset of life..., an arrangement in which one can practice behavior without dreading its consequences"

Importance of play

Frost (1992) concurred, stating that "play is the chief vehicle for the development of imagination and intelligence, language, social skills, and perceptual-motor abilities in infants and young children" (p. 48).Garvey (1977) states that play is most common during childhood when children's knowledge of self, comprehension of verbal and non-verbal communication, and understanding of the physical and social worlds are expanding dramatically.

The child plays with other children and there is a common goal or purpose to their activity.

They may be following one another in a functional activity, or they may be organized for making some material product, striving to attain some competitive goal, dramatizing situations of adult or group life, or playing formal games.

“group-centered”

Group play involves two or more individuals and is one of the most exhilarating, exciting and fulfilling interactive experience for children.

Group activities are more memorable and joyous when shared with friends and family and are irreplaceable gems that provide a foundation for the development of the skills needed for an individual to become a healthy and well-rounded person.

Group play activities provide learning experiences for a child that teaches him:

KindnessTo resolve conflictsTo build friendshipsTo respect othersTo communicate her thoughts and feelingsTo understand how her input is essential to the

successfuloutcome of the group

To develop more positive feelings about othersTo develop team -spiritTo work collaboratively, share ideas and take on

responsibilities for the benefit of the entire team

To learn and study others‟ emotions and how they respondin different situationsTo work in a productive wayTo share and take turns which builds and maintain healthyrelationships even in adulthoodTo foster healthy competition with othersTo be confident. A shy child won‟t gain confidence if heis always on his own without friendsThe more a child is around others the more his brain isbeing stimulated as he is constantly exploring others andeverything around him

Here are some group play activities that can certainly provide some of the benefits

mentioned

1.The Freeze Game-

a musical recorder or radio is required. The parent or caregiver asks

the children to scatter around the room evenly. When the music

begins to play, children should move and explore the room in

creative ways (e.g. hopping, skipping or dancing) in time with the

music. When the music stops everyone should freeze in their

position for two to three seconds, then the music play again.

Children with mobility challenges should be encouraged to move

whichever body part they can

2. Cat and Dog Game-two stuffed animals are needed for this game. One represents a cat and the other a dog. The group sits in a circle on the floor. The dog and the cat is passed around the circle in opposite directions to the music. The aim of the game is to get the animal to a predetermine point without dropping it. The child who drops the animal will do a dance, sing or some other activity.

3. Backyard Treasure Hunt Game-this activity allows each child to develop his problem solving and language skills. The game can be played in a backyard or park. The adult hides several items within the yard or park and splits the children in two equal groups. Each team is given a small container to collect the hidden items. A specific time is allotted for the game. Each team is rewarded according to the number of items collected within the allotted time.

Always keep group activities fun with emphasis placed on every child or group of children being a winner instead of being in a competition. Single child caregivers can consider inviting the child‟s friends over for an afternoon of fun and games.

Engaging with an object or area and, either by manipulation or movement,

(such as handling, throwing, banging or mouthing, assessing its properties, possibilities and content in search of factual information)

The fascination is with „what I can do with this and/or what I can make it do‟ Example;stacking bricks, dismantling a clock or radio, whipping a rope and swinging a stick or stacking toys one on top of another just to see what happens.It is looking for and trying out new things with tentative, cautious, excited curiosity.

It is a process of building an end product from a range of materials. However the end product is not the most important thing, especially not for the younger childConstruction and manipulative play is suitable for all stages of play and can be an individual activity like a jigsaw or a co-operative activity like a floor puzzle. Not only does construction promote manipulative skills it also encourages children to develop their language skills by talking about what they are doing.

Suitable toys include: Teifoc sets with real terracotta bricks (age 3 and up), Eitech sets (build a car, tractor - age 6 and up etc) and for younger ones try PlayMais, a natural toy made of maize which little fingers can stick together with water, no mess or fuss, just fun!

Teifoc sets

Eitech sets

Construction Toys

The selection and variety of construction toys has increased considerably so that the wide assortment of choice is now available. Duplos, Bristles Blocks, magnetic blocks and snap blocks are good beginning manipulative for young children, allowing for easy grip and assembly.

Duplos

Magnetic Blocks

Bristle Blocks

Snap Blocks

Children quickly loose interests after assembling the pieces a few times, whereas more opened-materials can be used over and over in an endless variety of ways. Simple toys such as nap beads and large size legosare available for toddlers.

The benefit of construction toysConstruction toys will help children develop basic math and physics. The sets are all about size, shape, color, and balance.Construction toys offer the child an opportunity to build their ideas and solving problems. It will happen when children began to have specific plan in their head. They will enjoy through many problems and solve it.Construction toys help children develop fine motor skill as eye-hand coordination. Babies and toddlers enjoy pick up and move big block with all their body. For preschoolers the blocks are more detailed and require precise control and movement.