| Description |
Language, cognitive and social-emotional learning skills are all essential for literacy development
and academic success. Research shows that play is the universal activity that blends cognitive, social,
emotional, linguistic and motor components. Observing children’s play provides information about
their knowledge, views of the world and mastered skills.
Join Dr. Westby as you learn about the vital relationship between
the dimensions of play, social-emotional functioning, language
and literacy. Learn firsthand, how to effectively use the Westby
Play Scale—a tool that offers a way to evaluate all young children’s
(birth-5 years) symbolic play skills. Supported by 40 years of evidencebased
research and organized by developmental level, this tool will
breakdown the milestones children should be achieving with their play
and language. You will also learn play practices and play strategies to
improve language, cognitive and social-emotional skills, including:
• Higher-level thinking, problem-solving and creativity
• Advancing language skills and text comprehension
• Awareness of temporal, cause-effect and social relationships
• Motivation, self-regulation and empathy
• Interpreting and responding appropriately to the needs, desires, and roles of others
These intervention activities will work for all young children, but special focus will be given to
interventions for children with language learning disabilities, autism, socio-economic/cultural
variations and ESL.
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