Daily Parent Drive Thru

With all of the media hubbub about test scores and achievement, parents may worry that kids aren’t doing enough schoolwork, reading, memorization, etc. But plenty of research and theory suggests that play is equally important to healthy child development and possibly more so than structured learning activities. 

Through play, the brain solve problems, creates new ideas and uses its creative and imaginative parts. As well, play with others develops social skills, helps kids read facial and non-verbal cues, teaches relationship dynamics. Play also releases endorphins, the brain’s “feel good” chemicals necessary to prevent depression and anxiety.

I am a Certified Master Child Care Trainer for the South Carolina Child Care Training System which means that I train child care providers for their continuing education requirements each year. I rely on best practices standards from the National Association for the Education of Young Children, which promote the importance of play in the early childhood classroom. Young children learn best through play.

When educators say “play”, parents often think play means running around. Children love to “play” with all kinds of things: blocks, water, sand, art supplies, math manipulatives, music, science concepts and more. Children even “play” with numbers when they do math.  It depends on how the math activity is approached as to whether the math activity is “learning through play” or “learning through formal instruction”. Children can “play” with words to write, create poetry, make puns.

It also turns out that adequate play time enhances formal instruction time. It makes sense that children who are antsy and agitated in the classroom from sitting for long periods of time would be less attentive than children who got to relieve stress through play and recess time.

Here are links to four articles on the web about the importance of play for different age levels. Articles include information about preschoolers and school age children.

Click on the article text and your browser will be directed to the article.

All Work and No Play Makes for Troubling Trend in Early Education

The Serious Need for Play

Daily School Recess Improves Classroom Behavior

Physically Fit Kids Do Better in School