At young age, play means learning
Print Edition
AS an educator, a school administrator, and a parent of preschoolers, I engage in many discussions about whether early childhood education should focus on play or learning. Which will prepare our children for the rigors of their academic careers? Many researchers argue that this discussion should not be about play versus learning, but rather play and learning.
Play is the language of children. Some underestimate the value of play, but I urge them to observe and analyze children as they play.
When I watch my son and daughter play, I see exploration, curiosity, concentration, passion, creativity, and so much excitement. Developmentally appropriate play aids children in gaining cognitive math skills when playing restaurant, physical skills when climbing on the playground, language skills when trying to share how they feel, literacy skills when pretending to write a grocery list, and social skills when learning to share toys.
I know what you may be thinking, “All this discussion about play is nice, but what about learning?”
As an educator and a school administrator, teaching and learning is my trade. In early childhood education, I advocate that teachers use guided play, provocations, and direct instruction as opportunities for teaching and learning.
Guided play comes from Maria Montessori, an Italian physician and educator who developed the Montessori method of instruction where a teacher oversees and gently directs children’s play. Guided play often involves directing children to interact with specific toys to gain knowledge. The teacher observes the child closely and asks questions to help the child learn.
If kindergarten is cutthroat, then it is not best for a child's development. However, I do believe that play-based learning can be rigorous when it is grounded in an understanding of developmentally appropriate best practice. My 4-year-old daughter does not need to be memorizing addition and subtraction facts, but she can begin to conceptually understand mathematics when she learns to share cookies with her classmates.
The rigor comes from my child’s play — exploration, curiosity, concentration, passion, creativity, excitement — and the questions and opportunities her teachers provide her with as she tries to make sense of the world around her. Play and learning — or perhaps play is learning.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
