Play in preschool classroom helps young children build emotional, social and thinking skills according to teachers Mrs. K and Ms. Rangel

Many people think preschool is just playtime, but teachers say it’s actually where most learning happens. Ms. Rangel and Mrs. K explained that through play, children develop communication, problem solving and emotional skills that help them grow both in and out of the classroom. This story focuses on how play based learning really shapes early childhood development.

 In preschool classrooms, play shows up in a lot of different ways, like pretend play, sensory activities and group interaction. Ms. Rangel said that dramatic play, like when kids pretend to play family, run a store, helps them build language as well associal skills.

“Play is where young children learn best. Even though it looks like just play, they’re building problem-solving, language and social skills,” Ms. Rangel said.

Mrs. K also explained that hands-on activities like playdough and sensory bins help children strengthen their fine motor skills while exploring different textures and materials in a fun way.

“Through play, children develop social skills, creativity, motor skills and early math and literacy,” Ms. Rangel said.

According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children, play-based learning supports all areas of development, including thinking and emotional growth. Activities like puzzles and building blocks help with problem-solving, while playing with others teaches sharing and cooperation.

Research also shows that play supports children’s learning and development by helping build creativity, problem-solving skills and brain development.

Studies from Harvard also show that learning through play in the classroom encourages curiosity, creativity and risk-taking which helps children stay engaged in learning.

After logging out of all of my accounts and clearing my browser history, I searched for my name on Google and other search engines as well. Surprisingly, only my Facebook profile appeared in the search results. My Instagram, Twitter and TikTok  did not show up at all, even though those are the apps I am on frequently. This made me realize that my digital presence is very limited and also not very searchable. If a potential employer searched for my name, they would see very little about me beyond Facebook, which is mostly personal. When I checked the image and video  tab not one picture or video came up of me and when I clicked the news tab, only obituary of another Julia came up. There is almost no content tied to my name online.

About Me: Since my Instagram does not appear in search results, my online identity feels incomplete. My Facebook profile picture is appropriate, but my bio has nothing to do with my academic or professional goals. I also made my Facebook account when I was young and I rarely use Facebook so this audit made me realize that I need to be more intentional about how I present myself publicly.

Content: Basically all of my content is personal, like family, friends, travel and things I decide to post. While it reflects who I am, it does not highlight my academic work or career aspirations. Since I work in a preschool, I am not allowed to post anything related to my job, which limits the type of professional content that I can share. However, this audit made me realize that even without posting about work, I could still share more about my education, future aspirations and interests to create a more balanced as well as professional online presence.

Frequency: It is very rare for me to post, I only post on Instagram and that is only stories, like if I’m traveling or doing something I like, my last post on Instagram was in 2022. My engagement is mostly personal and I do not use platforms to build a professional brand or share coursework.

Personality: My social media shows that I love to travel, that I am family orientated as well as expressive. However, it doesn’t show my discipline, academic growth or career ambitions. There is way more personality than professionalism.

Professional Interest: Currently, there is little evidence online that reflects my communication skills or my professional development. I am not using my social media as a tool to share ideas.

Journalism Skills: Currently, my social media does not strongly reflect journalism skills.

Article: “Backlash to Trump emboldens Democrats on DHS and ICE as partial shutdown looms” NBC NEWS

Summary: The article reports on growing public and political backlash to former President Trump’s immigration policies, particularly surrounding DHS and ICE, as the threat of a partial government shutdown approaches. In the article it explains how protests, public opinion surveys and internal political pressure have encouraged for Democrats to take a stronger stance on funding and oversight of ICE and CBP. It also highlights how immigration enforcement has become such a central issue in ongoing budget negotiations and how recent actions by ICE have intensified a debate across the country.

I chose this story because immigration enforcement and government accountability are an ongoing national issues that affect millions of people, especially immigrant families and marginalized communities.I also chose this story because people need to be more aware of what is happening and how political decisions directly impact everyday real lives. This story is engaging because its connects policy decisions directly to real world consequences and it shows how political debates translate into actions that impact daily life.

Uses of Multimedia: The reporter uses different forms of multimedia to be able to tell the story.

1. Written text provides a political context, background information and quotes from officials and lawmakers
2. Photography shows protests and ICE activity, which helps the readers visualize public reaction and also the emotional weight of the issue.
3. Interactivity includes links to stories that are related and background reporting which allows for the reader to explore the topic more and understand its broader context.

Intended Audience:

The intended audience includes general news readers, people interested in the U.S. politics and immigration policy and voters. It is especially relevant to immigration communities, activists and all those who are concerned with civil rights and government accountability.

Why this story is relevant:

This story is relevant because it addresses current political debates that surround immigration, federal funding as well as law enforcement power. With a potential government shutdown and all of the ongoing protests, people need to understand how these decisions could affects immigration enforcement and public trust. This article highlights how news reporting can inform the public without having to tell readers what to think and allowing them to engage.

1. https://www.apple.com/apple-news/ , I use Apple News because it gathers stories from many reputable news organizations in one place. It also allows me to easily access breaking news and I can compare coverage from different outlets. It’s very easy to access since the application comes with your phone already. I trust Apple News because it features articles from established news organizations and it clearly separates news reporting from opinion pieces.
2. https://www.nytimes.com, The New York Times is one of my main news sources, because it also comes as an app on my phone. I rely on it for international and national news and all of the new breaking news. I trust the New York Times because its articles are well researched, they distinguish clearly between opinion content and news reporting and they also include multiple credible sources.
3. https://www.nbcnews.com, NBC News is a source that I use for breaking news and coverage of major national events. They have verified information from journalists on the ground and their reporting is timely. I very must trust NBC News because it focuses on factual reporting and they also separate straight news from commentary.