Child, Youth and Family Services
August 23, 2012
Conference to Highlight Importance of Play-Based Learning
Approximately 100 early childhood educators and primary teachers from across the province will learn more about the importance of play during a summer institute this week in St. John’s.
The Play for Optimal Learning Conference, began today (Thursday, August 23) at the Ramada St. John’s.
“The importance of play to a child’s early learning cannot be overstated,” said the Honourable Clyde Jackman Minister of Education. “Play promotes learning in all areas of children’s development – language, cognitive, social-emotional and physical. It is through everyday activities and opportunities to play, on their own or with their parents and caregivers, that children first learn valuable skills such as numeracy and literacy that will eventually help them to be successful in school and in life.”
The Department of Education is providing $125,000 for the two-day conference, which will highlight the role of the educator and the environment in promoting play-based learning with young children. Officials with school districts, the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services and the Association of Early Childhood Educators Newfoundland and Labrador assisted in the planning of the event, which will feature local and national experts and allow participants to be actively involved in defining what emerging curriculum and play-based learning means to them as educators.
“Play-based learning provides young children with a solid foundation and encourages them to learn about their world in ways that are meaningful and engaging,” said the Honourable Charlene Johnson Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services. “Our government is pleased to support the early childhood educators and teachers who facilitate playful exploration for our children and provide them with an opportunity to come together and discuss best practices in play-based learning.”
Minister Jackman addressed the opening of the Play for Optimal Learning Conference this morning while Minister Johnson will address delegates tomorrow (Friday, August 24) at 9:00 a.m.
Budget 2012: People and Prosperity includes almost $1.7 million for the
second year of implementation of the province’s early childhood learning
strategy, Learning from the Start, which is designed to enhance early
learning opportunities for young children and their families. It is part of
a three-year $4.8 million investment, announced last year, with an initial
focus on the years from birth to age three.
For information on early childhood learning and development and Learning
from the Start initiatives, visit the website at:
www.ed.gov.nl.ca/edu/earlychildhood/.
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Media contacts:
| Heather May Director of Communications Department of Education 709-729-0048 heathermay@gov.nl.ca |
Michelle Hunt Director of Communications Department of Child, Youth and Family Services 709-729-5148 michellehunt@gov.nl.ca |
2012 08 23 10:50 a.m.