Play can be divided into 5 categories:

1. Domestic play - eg house corner, shop, post office

2. Play with natural materials - eg sand/water.

3. Constructive play - eg blocks, puzzles.

4. Make believe/imaginative play - eg paints, musical instruments.

5. Miscellaneous - eg computer, games library corner.

Many concepts from different subject areas can be covered through structured play.  Teacher has set aims and objectives for children to achieve.  For example mathematical skills are developed.  Domestic play in the house corner gives children the opportunity of sorting sets - set of spoons, cups, saucers, one to correspondence, cup and saucer, knife and fork.  During construction play using blocks they are counting, ordering for size and shape, light or heavy.

Scientific concepts are also developed.  For example during play with natural materials, ie sand or water, children are exploring and investigating using their senses.  Their sense of touch, how the sand feels, wet/dry, is the texture rough/smooth?

Structured play also provides many language opportunities.  Children are co-operating with each other, communicating with each other, and their conversational skills are extended through these interactions.

Below there is a brief summary of the learning which takes place through structured play.

Points to Remember :

• Look at your room from time to time. 
• Play areas rather than play corners.
• Make constant use of COMPUTER during structured play.
• Don't need to have everything going on at the same time.
• Always have a spare activity, eg Library
  Imaginative play - dressing up.
• Time - How often?
  - Tidy up time is a learning experience
  - The ideal - 
      - P1 -  1½ hours every day
      - P2 -  1 hour every day
      - P3 -  3 days a week
• Resources  -  Ask parents for ‘Help'  We need :
  - Clothes for dressing up - Cater for boys and girls
  - They should be clean and attractive
  - Labels on shelves
  - Children make resources, eg coloured sweets, smarties, marshmallows
  - Improvise
• Adult involvement
  - Knitting clothes for the dolls
• Plan ahead
  - What resources do I need for Monday morning - eg 4 at water tray, 6 at shopping game.
• Presentation of Play Materials
  - eg start a building, make a little model - could they make something to with that?
• Children get a balanced play programme.

Ending Play

• Prior warning play will soon end.
• Don't destroy what they make, eg plan their route to school in the sand tray.
• Child explains his/her model to the rest of the class.
• We value what they have done, look at it through their eyes.