Privileged to be invited to this conference as an alumni of SUSS. Had the chance to hit the pause button today from the usual routine. This conference was a much needed break, a spark, a reminder of the community I serve — why I do what I do.
Key Takeaways!
First: Sirene’s Keynote — Growing up in a ludicrous century: Strengthening children’s mind-body connections through play
Food for thought by Sirene’s:
When we tell parents to not use screens, what alternatives can I suggest to replace screen-time?
How do we use AI creatively in our work w children?
What makes us human? How can we nurture children to be ‘more human’ esp in the unpredictable future? Sense of purpose? Morality? Make-meaning out of every experience we have in life? Help them feel fulfilled in the task that they do?
Before we knew it, we are singing and moving along to Sirene’s invitation to a brain break, “She will be wearing pink pyjamas when she comes”, as we tap the person on the side knee back of hand.
There is always something magnetic about Sirene’s delivery that rejuvenates me everything I hear her speak. She linked the brain break to talk about neuroscience.
Takeaway:
Screen-time can be harmful when it is used as a distraction, or when children are left to it to consume on their own.
…
She shared about executive functioning (EF) — a topic that is on the rise these days.
Some nerdy points:
We have 3 canonical brain network: 1) DMN (survival, creativity, affected in mental disorders), 2) SN (processes emotions, linked to motivation), 3) CEN (working memory, attention, problem solving, info processing)
HENCE
Holistic development = taking care of both brain and nervous system
How do we then offer children an embodied curriculum which supports the integration of mind & body? Can we see teaching and routine care as a whole?
*Physical activity (not merely a neighbourhood walk) >> Spatial awareness, increase blood flow to the brain, navigate physical risks, encounter conflict & messiness
EF = a set of mental skills that enable us to do what we should, and not what we naturally want to do. E.g., buying other things that is not in our shopping list
READ: SUSS white paper - Are we brave to let our children play?
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Hanin Hussein, NIE: Playing Games, Making Games
https://entuedu-my.sharepoint.com/:p:/g/personal/haninh_niestaff_cluster_nie_edu_sg/EQFNUylBQ-ZAthbPDDr3H6UBxRcZRASuSkdsSZde36eQdw?rtime=N7OzhBbt3Ug
I signed up for this because I was curious about how to involve children in game design! And I think this will help me better introduce games to children, and subsequently more daring to involve my children in the design as I progress with them :)
Takeaway 1: Game design framework
Every game has…
1. A name (What)
2. Players (Who)
3. Location & boundaries (Where)
4. Objects (what to play with)
5. Rules (how do we play - learning obj, age group)
> Can use this flow for cognitive structuring during game introduction
Takeaway 2: Why do children PLAY?
Something cool that I discovered is about the idea that children play to practice certain skills OR just have fun with their peers! Just like animals who play to practice hunting, escaping, nursing, etc. Play has to meet children’s own purpose.
Takeaway 3: How to foster reflection & ongoing interactions of ideas, etc. amongst players AND OBSERVERS?
- Invite observers to contribute ideas/ rules to the game.
- Discuss, decide & write decisions before playing
- Ask why to foster critical thinking
- Reflecting on game experiences & variations played after play with photos & videos
- How did it make you feel?
- Who would like to suggest the next variation?
How to generate and sustain interests in game playing
- Play in a visible location
- Integrated learning
- Create a magnetic story - hungry wolf, pigs who want to play
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Play It Forward: Generations in Motion
Vivian Eng
Outcomes: 1) Mutual enjoyment, 2) Foster connections & learning
Activity ideas:
1. Obstacle course (step over hurdles, tossing balloons/balls seated)
2. Engage them to press bubble guns
3. Charades
4. Child get to be confident to lead an elderly who happily follow along
5. Drawing tgt while chatting about culture, values, and heritage
6. Relay to bring the hoops down to the person seated at the back
7. Elderly juggle balloons while child counts how many times
8. Storytelling game: Everyone contribute 1/2 words, string into a story together >>> Memory, logic, language, creativity, imaginative
9. Balloon play, w variations
10. Beer pong
11. Traditional games: old maid, donkey, five stones, cuti cuti, snake and ladders
Considerations:
1. Music selection choice
Why Intergenerational Play?
1. Aging population
2. Improve social bonds - Reduce social isolation
3. Stronger sense of community - wider support network
4. Keeping connected w roots (traditions, culture, heritage, values) - e.g., dialect
5. Breakdown ageist stereotypes
An example:
Music: Lions sleep tonight
Materials: Musical rods/ drum sticks/ parachute
Inclusion: Chairs available
Difficulty: Three repeated movements
My reflections: Would like to try music & movement during my planning for the end-of-year IG. Beyond mere craft/ dancing