If we have the answers, why do aren’t we doing it?
From the first class in any Early Childhood Development, we are taught that play is how children learn. We learn the importance of play and everything a child can gain from in a play environment. There is even research to back of this fact. If we have the answers on how children learn, why aren’t we doing it? I understand and especially a 4-year-old teacher will understand the pressure that parents put on the school to make sure the child is “kindergarten ready.” I have a lot of parents who are so concerned that their child can’t retain information. I feel as if I am constantly reminding parents that we are setting a foundation for child on how to learn. We are not bombarding them with writing their name, identifying numbers and letters if it doesn’t make sense but we are teaching the children how to learn and become critical thinkers by asking open-ended questions. This way when the child is developmentally ready these things will click and it will be meaningful for them.
I still question where do we go wrong? I know that not every family will understand the importance of play and there will always that one person that says I only see my child play all day or criticize the school for just fostering the social aspect of the school. We read that in Finland they don’ rush the children to learn how to read and let the children explore through play and they score higher on test. Why can’t our Department of Education, government, administrators, Boards, etc. see the importance of play?
Hi Sarah,
ReplyDeleteWhen I first started teaching I learned all the importance of how children learn through play. I set up my classroom just as I was taught. But over the years I found myself just as guilty as Vivian's kindergarten teacher. I myself constantly have to fight over what is appropriate and what is not for my young children. I think as an educator we learned all the fundamentals of early childhood education and we have to balance our daily curriculum between fun-filled play and a little bit of ABC's and 1,2,3's. I had attended a lot of workshops in regarding to early childhood learning, I experienced all the educators shared the same frustrations as we do.
Ivy
Hi Sarah,
ReplyDeleteI would like to send the question back to you - why do you think play is not part of our schools or that we do not listen to research like the research coming out of Finland? Does a change in our current practices towards practices like those in Finland make the United States look foolish? Does it mean we are admitting our current practices are hurting the children presently and previously in school? Is pride more important than meeting the needs of our children?
What would it mean to make play central to learning without justifying play through academics?
Jeanne
Hi Sarah,
ReplyDeleteI think sometimes some educators want to satisfy their parents and make themselves look really good by providing worksheets and homework, when really they are doing wrong to the child. Educators should do what's right for the child and not do what the parents want because most of them are not educated on childrens developmental growth. Parents know what they know from their parents, families, and friends, and try to do what they think is right for their childre because this is what they've seen, heard, and learned.
And our government needs to go over and observe how Finland's children are being taught. Will our government put their ego's aside and do what's really right for the children of the future? If Finland's children are successful in their academics by incorporating play, wouldn't it make sense to do the same?
Ashley