Vocabulary

Cognition is the mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses.
Emotional Development is learning how to manage feelings so that they work for us and not against us. 
Imagination is the faculty or action of forming new ideas, images, or concepts of external objects not present to the senses. 
Play is the engagement in an activity for enjoyment and recreation, rather than a serious or practical purpose.
Psychological is of, affecting, or arising in the mind, or related to the mental and emotional state of a person.
Spontaneous is the sudden inner impulse or inclination to do something without premeditation or external stimulus. 
Social Development is learning how to behave and 'get on' well with others.

Purpose - 
Play for Development

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Play is essential to the development of the child. Many studies have demonstrated that play contributes to the development of the child's social, cognitive, physical, and spiritual capacities. The Convention requires that adults respect the right of the child to play, and this includes spending time alone. In this sub-unit, the child identifies what social and psychological values are gained through creative and productive spontaneous self activity, whether with others or alone.
Child Asks: How does play help me develop socially and personally?
Children's Rights Education enables the child to identify the social and psychological values implicit in play.
Child Answers: Play is important to my development and it is part of my work as a child. 

Classroom Learning Activities

1. Information to come

Relevant Convention Articles

Article 31
1. States Parties recognize the right of the child to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts.
2. States Parties shall respect and promote the right of the child to participate fully in cultural and artistic life and shall encourage the provision of appropriate and equal opportunities for cultural, artistic, recreational and leisure activity.

Online Resources and References

Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children (2011): Children's Right to Rest, Play, Recreation, Culture, and the Arts
Government of South Australia - Child and Family Health Division: Social Development of Children by Pam Linke (2009)
Play = Learning: Yale University Conference on Play by Singer, Dorothy, Golinkoff, Roberta, and Hirsh-Pasek, Kathy