CHCPR301A: Provide experiences to support children’s play and learning

Descriptor: This unit describes the knowledge and skills required to conduct a range of activities that assist in enhancing children’s developmental and leisure experiences
Employability Skills: This unit contains Employability Skills.
Application: This unit may apply to working with children in a range of community service contexts.
Work will be undertaken under direct supervision and will be in accordance with appropriate health and safety requirements and programs plans.

Element	Performance Criteria
Elements define the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.	The Performance Criteria specify the level of performance required to demonstrate achievement of the Element. Terms in italics are elaborated in the Range Statement.
1. Create a stimulating, positive and developmentally appropriate environment to foster development, play and learning	1.1 Provide areas, resources and materials for different kinds of play and physical activity 1.2 Change the resources regularly to provide variety of activity 1.2 Ensure play and physical activity reflect the cultural diversity, gender and abilities of children 1.3 Set up environment in a way that is safe, non threatening, challenging and stimulating 1.4 Allow sufficient time for play to develop and be completed when possible 1.5 Identify children’s individual interests and needs and support by provision of activities or materials 1.6 Provide a range of physical activities to allow children choice in their play whenever possible 1.7 Provide opportunities for both group and individual play activities and experiences indoors and outdoors
2. Actively guide and encourage children to undertake a variety of developmentally appropriate activities	2.1 Encourage and acknowledge children’s efforts 2.2 Use activities, resources and materials flexibly to meet children’s individual preferences and prompt extensions of play 2.3 Encourage children to participate in a variety of experiences and to choose activities which support their development and fundamental movement skills competency and confidence 2.4 Demonstrate respect for children’s choice not to participate and encourage where experience is new or unknown
3. Facilitate children’s play, learning and physical activity	3.1 Follow child’s lead in play and physical activity and participate when invited 3.2 Initiate play and physical activities and invite child to participate 3.3 Interact with children showing enthusiasm, playfulness and enjoyment 3.4 Monitor children’s reactions to play environment to ensure each child remains interested, challenged but not frustrated 3.5 Encourage children to include other children in their play 3.6 Monitor interaction between children to ensure children remain safe and are interacting appropriately 3.7 Redirect children’s inappropriate play 3.8 Provide interesting and varied natural outdoor space to encourage active play 3.9 Prepare and provide suitable materials for activities

Required Skills And Knowledge

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level required for this unit.

Essential knowledge:

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively perform task skills; task management skills; contingency management skills and job/role environment skills as outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit

These include knowledge of:

Importance of play and leisure to human development and health including:
- Role in promoting healthy weight
- That it is a lifelong concept
Knowledge and understanding of the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing 2004, National Physical Activity Recommendations for Children and Youth
Basic knowledge of age and cultural appropriate physical activity recommendations and fundamental movement skills milestones
Safety measures available to minimise safety risks for children and others including sun safety, equipment use and maintenance, standards of safety for equipment provisions e.g soft falls area under equipment
Types and complexities of play and leisure
Stages of play
Play materials and spaces available
Different cultural beliefs about play; areas of play regarded as important and appropriate
Occupational health and safety
Range of leisure interests of children
Cultural beliefs about leisure for children of different ages and adults
Organisation standards, policies and procedures
Children’s developmental stages applicable to the specific age group and what this means for appropriate resources/materials selection
Organisation standards, policies and procedures
Introductory knowledge of child development for children aged 0 to 5 years or 6 to 12 years
Inclusion and acceptance of all children regardless of their race, gender or ability is understood
Importance of childhood
Interest in and enjoyment of children
Relevant Quality Improvement and Accreditation Principles

Essential skills:

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability to:

Guide individual children’s play and leisure, giving due regard to child's age, abilities, interests, culture and development
Provide a range of experiences to stimulate children and aid their development
Vary experience depending on child's age, abilities, development, culture and need
Work effectively with young children within a historical and philosophical framework of child care delivery

In addition, the candidate must be able to demonstrate relevant task skills; task management skills; contingency management skills and job/role environment skills
These include the ability to:

Demonstrate effective placement of equipment, considering safety, movement of children, different ages/ stages of development of children
Adapt environment to encourage different types of play and stages of play
Adapt play or leisure experiences for different children according to needs, interests
Assess fundamental movement skills development
Demonstrate application of skills in:
- time management
- acceptance of different attitudes of families about play
- contingency management
- planning
- interpersonal
- active listening
- communicate with children
- reflect on own practices

Range Statement

The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.

Leisure is understood to be:	A special way of doing and feeling It mixes stimulating, creative, relaxing, playful, refreshing challenging and pleasant It balances those things in life that may be boring, onerous, time consuming busy work, expectations, tiring, repetitive, hurried or dutiful Leisure describes pursuits that are freely chosen and deeply satisfying
Physical activity includes:	Any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscle that results in a substantial increase over the resting energy expenditure
Environment may include:	The building and grounds where the service is located e.g. Home, centre The local area around the service and its resources and characteristics
An environment set up to ‘invite’ children to play and foster play and leisure may:	Look interesting to the child Provide choices indoors and outdoors Be safe, physically and psychologically Provide challenge appropriate to the children’s stage of development
Creating an environment to foster play and leisure may depend on:	Whether the space is shared with other services Whether the service has to set up and pack up for each play session Resources available Age of children Number of children Type of service Environment – indoors and outdoors Location Materials available (natural and processed) Staff Community background and expectations
Different kinds of play and physical activity may include:	Quiet and energetic, boisterous Functional, constructive, dramatic play Games and free flowing play Solitary, parallel and interactive or a mix of these Cooperative play Imaginative play Painting, crafts, board games Play with words/music Fundamental movement skills games and activities Outdoors and active Story reading and telling Use of music, movement and visual arts
For older children, play, leisure and physical activity may include:	Sports Organised games e.g. Races, soccer Games Hobbies and interests Solitary activities Listening to music Talking with friends Going for a walk Interactions with people from community Observing Fundamental movement skills games and activities
Areas for different kinds of play, leisure and physical activity may include areas for:	Quiet play Constructive play Noisy play Sand play, water play Creative play Dramatic play Physical play and activity Sports including fundamental movement skills games and activities Solitary activities Music Conversations Nature based outdoor play
Ways of facilitating play will be affected by a child’s age/stage of development and must include:	For babies and infants: Flexible routines to allow for the needs of individuals to be met Gentle handling, eye contact and appropriate sensory experiences to develop security and trust Safe environment to explore For toddlers: The day is structured and routines are established Blocks of time are available for exploring and experimenting with the materials Caregivers introduce new and different experiences to children Play is extended by introducing new materials or resources or suggesting alternative ways to use the materials Caregivers give children time to develop their ideas Transition from one activity to another is smooth Worker modelling play and use of equipment For 3 to 5 year old children: Care giver’s interactions provide a positive role model for children An environment is maintained that respects individual and group needs Children are aware of the limits which are applied consistently Children’s feelings are acknowledged and respected by caregivers and children For 6 to 12 year old children: Participation with children Materials are suggested or alternatives uses of equipment/materials are suggested Cycling A variety of indoor and outdoor activities for all ages
Experiences will vary according to the age of the child and creative and challenging experiences may include:	For babies and infants: Selection of toys, different textures, colours and size are selected Toys are large (cannot be swallowed) and have no sharp edges, and easily washed/cleaned Different types of experiences are used e.g. Water play, sand play, outdoors time For toddlers: Experiences can include indoor and outdoor experiences Experiences reflect a toddler’s interest in the world around them, and the desire to explore it, feel it, see it and touch it e.g. Nature walk to look at leaves, collect them Experiences reflect a toddler’s growing mastery of their own body e.g. Small slippery dips are used, outdoor area can be a little more involved For 3 to 5 year olds: Experiences can include cooking, sewing, carpentry, washing Experiences can be more varied and complicated, which reflects a child’s developing cognitive and physical abilities Choice not to participate is respected and alternative activity is negotiated For 6 to 12 year olds: Experience planned may include specific suggestions of children themselves Development of hobbies Self selected peer groups Individual, small group and larger group experiences Choice not to participate is respected and alternative activity is negotiated
Aspects of child development include:	Physical fitness and fundamental movement skills ability Cognitive development Social development Emotional development Creative and aesthetic development Language development Moral development Spiritual development
Resources required to be organised for excursions may include:	Records that need to be taken First aid supplies Relevant equipment Location of toilets Keys Mobile phone Tickets Equipment required for activities Petty cash
Records that may need to be taken on excursions may include:	List of children attending Emergency contact details Medical needs for children
Responsibilities of children on excursions may include:	For belongings For payments For time keeping For travelling together
Opportunities that can be provided to support children’s development will vary according to a number of factors in the service, such as:	Child/worker ratios Physical environment - constraints and potential Purpose of the service The amount and type of support from parents and participation by parents The level of support available to the service from external bodies e.g. Advice specialist services, resource workers The frequency and regularity of use of the service by the child
Skills related to physical development may include:	Eye - hand coordination Dexterity Fine and gross motor skills Balance/static Locomotion Motor skills
Opportunities for social interaction may include:	Formally organised activities A time and place for unplanned interaction Meetings Travelling Walks Setting up environment/venue
Special occasions may include:	Birthdays of children Festivals Celebration of achievements Community events Birthdays of animals Beginning and end of school term or holidays Cultural events ‘Graduation’ from child care service
Differences among children may include:	Gender Race and culture Age Interests and preferences Social context and lifestyle Communication style Personality Length of time attending service/child care Abilities
Opportunities provided for social interaction will vary according to the age of the children For babies and infants:	Trusting relationships are developed with familiar adults Adults work at eye level with infants Care routines are used for social interaction Adults talk, sing and recite poems with infants Adults listen to infants and respond
Language forms may include:	Verbal and written Formal and colloquial, informal Fun and serious styles

Evidence Guide

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.