Mamapedia City Voices highlights the inside scoop on your city by selected writers, from up-and-coming mom bloggers to well-known mom experts.
For Preschoolers, the Play's the Thing
My son started preschool today. I know a lot of moms tend to cry as they see their babies head off to start a new chapter in their lives and be taken care of by another woman (or man). Me, I was actually feeling jealous that my son was going to have a fabulous day of playing and music and activities. Once I saw the schedule of what his day looks like, I wanted to go to preschool too! He has free play time at different “stations” in the classroom. Story time. Playground time. Snack time. Craft/project time. Music time. More free play time. All with a group of amazingly cute people his own age. See what I mean? Jealous!
Actually, I’m glad my son is with a group of his peers and two great teachers who provide “teachable moments” through play. Academics are important, but especially for young children (my son is almost three), more and more studies and experts are showing that play is what preschoolers really need. Like an op-ed piece in the New York Times last week about the importance of play: “The Philosophical Baby” author Alison Gopnik wrote: “But what children observe most closely, explore most obsessively and imagine most vividly are the people around them. There are no perfect toys; there is no magic formula. Parents and other caregivers teach young children by paying attention and interacting with them naturally and, most of all, by just allowing them to play.”
Gopnik says children under five learn differently from older people and that the kind of intelligence they have is a different kind from what adults have – and that’s why exploring their world through play is so vital. Counter this with news, also last week, about parents who are hiring tutors for their children about to enter kindergarten so they will be certain to be in step with the class academically. The article points out kindergarten has gotten more academic as standardized testing has become the norm, allowing less time for children to play despite lack of research showing, for example, that early readers are better off later in elementary school. And the early push for academics at the expense of play can lead to anxiety in young students – even depression, the article says. So, yes, I am wholeheartedly excited about my son’s playing at preschool – especially playtime outside. As a former outdoor recreation/nature writer, I have known for a long time the power of time spent outside as a way to relax and rejuvenate myself. And organizations like the National Wildlife Federation’s Green Hour are encouraging free time spent outdoors as a way of reducing anxiety, stress and even ADHD symptoms in children – not to mention a way to foster love for the environment and natural world. While my son is learning, playing and making friends two days a week, I could stay home and be jealous – or get out and play myself! And that’s exactly what I intend to do. Play enriches him, and it’s good for a mama too.
Holly blogs about the mom crazies and life in South Florida at Tropic of Mom, winner of the 2009 Nickelodeon Parents’ Picks Award for Best Local Blog in Miami. She is also the author of the nature book 30 Eco-Trips in Florida.
facebook
twitter
StumbleUpon
digg it
kirtsy
Technorati
reddit
del.icio.us
blinklist
simpy
wvsahm07, October 30, 2009
Thank you so much for this encouraging blog post! My son is 2 atm and will be heading to preschool next fall. For now, I try to give him opportunities to play, especially outside, as I believe it is so important to his overall education. There will be plenty of time to focus on academics. As long as he loves to learn, he will be fine.
Holly at Tropic of Mom, November 1, 2009
I think you're right, wvsahm07, love of learning really is the key! :)
Catherine, November 8, 2009
Thank you for posting this. I am a preschool teacher and while I teach phonics (very basic) to 4 and 5 year olds, I am a firm believer that children learn more while playing than by repeating letters and numbers!! Too many parents want the academic side of things. Children will be in school until they are 25 now in order to get a good paying job...
Kristie, November 8, 2009
I worked for two years with the one year old's mother's day out at a local church's accredited day school and let me tell you....we had a blast! The kids would cry at drop off at the beginning of the year b/c they were stepping outside of their comfort zone, but once all the parents were out of sight, the fun began. They were such a joy to have and they really learned so much from each other. Their little personalities burst out and it was just amazing to watch them learn thru play...
Nicole, November 8, 2009
As a stay at home mom, who has discovered she isn't stay at home mom material, and is going back to school full time in the spring. I can say that I can't wait for my 2 and half year old daughter to start preschool. I really think she'll love it, for the exact reasons you mentioned above. I have no anxiety about her starting at all, because I know that this is what she needs right now too. :)
Mary Halbasch, November 8, 2009
I have been teaching preschool for 23 years. After much research, I am working at a play-based parent co-op. This has been my most rewarding and productive years as I am watching these children learn thru emergent curriculum. That is we study what is their interest. Last year, as I watched our little ones go to kindergarten, I realized I have never seen more prepared children. As a teacher, a sturctured book taught curriculum is a piece of cake...
Nati's Mommy, November 8, 2009
My daughter started home daycare at 2 1/2 mos, when I had to go back to work. She is now 27 mos and in a daycare in PR. She absolutely loves it. She is an only child(I'm expecting in Dec), so socialization was very very important to us. She was immersed in art, music, learning, socialization, and best of all fun times in her 1st in home daycare...
stella white, November 8, 2009
Great article. I was sad when I dropped off my little ones; but when I was aware of all the activities and free time to run around and play, it made the whole experience better. I went to a private school, where every minute was a scheduled activity. Lunch was a break from the "grind" and that final bell was a relief.
As an artist, I support the Dreyfoos School in West Palm Beach. And I would LOVE to go back to high school there.
Kathleen Gillie, November 8, 2009
Yes, I agree that play is vital. My concern is too much organized school to soon and not enough play within families together. I am an empty nester this year and one thing that keeps coming to the forefront of my thoughts is I wish I could go back and have even more fun with my son than I did.
My son did not start preschool until he was 41/2. I felt a little exposure to school routine before Kindergarten would be important as all of his piers had been in school for years...
Margaret Matthes, November 8, 2009
So true - play is essential to a pre-schooler's development. Music is also essential. My kids and I loved "Kindermusik." It is a play-based music program that combines music and movement and meets weekly. The great thing about Kindermusik is that it has highly-trained teachers, offers parent education, and provides wonderful materials to help make your at-home playtime with your child more meaningful. It's a lovely way to spend time together.
Elisa, November 8, 2009
It is absolutely true that a child learns best by playing at this age. Even beyond preschool, many children learn better through games and hands-on activities that teach them without them even realizing they are "learning." Placing undue pressure on children to learn formally before they are ready actually does more harm to their desire and ability to learn...
Anita, November 8, 2009
My 2 1/2 yo son attends a play group twice a week for 3 hours that sounds like what you are describing. It does look fun, and two months into it we are already noticing increases in his vocabulary and ability to play both with others and independently. Best of all, he can indulge his love for tempera paint to his heart's content (and somewhere other than home!)...
Jerrie DeRose, November 8, 2009
A wonderful story and one I can relate to. I am an early childhood education consultant and also have a 4 year old grandson in Head Start which is structured just like you son's preschool. He is always showing off what he has learned like his colors, shapes, and counting. They had a dad/kid day where his stepdad and him built a bird house together and the next week my daughter went and helped him paint and decorate...
Kris, November 9, 2009
I totally agree with you. I am a Licensed Speech Language Pathologist and have worked with pre-schoolers for many years. Play is the way preschoolers learn. Structure is valuable, but lots of their learning needs to be child-led. They'll get plenty of adult-directed learning as they get older. Many child-development experts state that most mild delays will be remediated through play and play-based education/treatment. Let's encourage our preschoolers to keep on playing.
meliy, November 9, 2009
I am a preschool teacher, and it is sooooooooo fun to play with the children, and watch them grow. There is so much you can do through play! Unfortunatly a lot of people do not understand that at all, and its great you do! Its amazing what they can learn. so if you are jealous...you could always become a preschool teacher :).
