Let’s Play: Supporting Social Communication in Early Childhood, Workshop #1 – Balancing Structured and Unstructured Play Deb Norris February 7, 2022

Overview of series: Social communication, or the exchange of information between individuals, is an imperative part of social emotional well-being. Through play we can create opportunities for children's developing minds, language, and the capacity for negotiating social exchanges. This workshop series, with graduate course option, focuses on the development for all learners of pivotal life, educational, and social skills, which are nurtured most effectively within the context of play. Workshop #1: Balancing Structured and Unstructured Play Play is an integral part of learning, communication, social well-being, and self-regulation. Practitioners will actively participate in the development of strategies, supports, and specific practices for creating a facilitative play context for all learners. Participants will: Define play, as well as explore neurodivergent preferences and approaches to play Engage in developmentally appropriate simulations that emphasize neurodivergence Outline the stages and types of play, including understanding historical perspectives on play as well as the current approaches that nurture the role of play in social emotional development and learning Develop and simulate play plans that balance play types and create a facilitative context for the development of language, social relatedness, and communication This offering is part of the Neurodiversity and Inclusion program and as such, will include a focus on supporting neurodivergent learners as well as neurotypical learners.