Pasi Sahlberg
Play is an universal aspect of human nature. It is also natural way for children to make sense of complex life around them. Research has shown that when children play it positively affects their learning and also emotional wellbeing. Yet, play is often not well present in Australian primary schools. This workshop assumes that play and art (in its various forms) are two sides of the same coin – play boosting curiosity, artistic expression, imagination, and creativity. It then presents some common findings that seem to be the obstacles to more time to and learning through play in our schools and identifies some easy, inexpensive ways to enrich children’s daily experiences in primary schools by letting children play more.