Does Play Still Have A Place In School?

The American Prospect June 2010 By Lisa Guernsey When the latest scores of our country's national reading test arrived this spring, they were as depressing as usual: Two-thirds of American fourth-graders, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, cannot read at grade level. Among Hispanic and African American children, it's even higher.

During play, children increase their social competence and emotional maturity. This article outlines other chief reasons why play is so vital for kids.

Are kids getting the amount of exercise and play at school that they really need? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests they probably aren't. Only 3.8% of elementary schools provide daily physical education for the entire school year (1).

Preschool - it's not just about the sandbox anymore. As elementary school becomes more rigorous, so does preschool. Children are expected to learn certain skills in preschool so that they are prepared for elementary school. Considering the limited time in a preschool setting and the pressure for success later on, where does play fit in?

You can read this article in a selection of languages other than English. Playing is one of the most important things you can do with your child. The time you spend playing together gives your child lots of different ways and times to learn.

Kid Decoder Physical dexterity, social skills and other lessons kids learn from donning a costume Play is not a departure from learning - learning is at the heart of play. When your little one engages in dress-up play, he represents himself as someone else. He might be a policeman, a baker, a father or a dog.

Parents recognize the value of their children's play, and may join the fun with their child. It may surprise you to learn that the benefits of your child's play extend far beyond ...

Thank you for visiting Learning 4 Kids. We have recently moved this page. Please CLICK HERE to view our most recent Sensory Activities. WHY MESSY-SENSORY PLAY IS IMPORTANT? Messy play is important for young children, giving them endless ways to develop and learn. All types of play are essential for children's development and early learning.

Dress up is an essential part your child's development - find the right items for an instant wardrobe!

If you ask any 4-year-old what he does in preschool, he will probably say something close to, 'I do my work and I play with my friends.' Of course, that 4-year-old's 'work' includes painting, listening to stories, carrying out suggestions made by teachers-'play,' in most of our vocabularies.

Six-month old William laughs as his mom plays a game of peek-a-boo with him. Three-year-old Alyce thinks it funny when her father puts on a silly hat. Six-year-old Pedro throws a cape around his shoulders, runs across the room and pretends to be Superman. Play is essentially important in the life of a child.

TWENTY years ago, kids in preschool, kindergarten and even first and second grade spent much of their time playing: building with blocks, drawing or creating imaginary worlds, in their own heads or with classmates. But increasingly, these activities are being abandoned for the teacher-led, didactic instruction typically used in higher grades.

By The Director of the NAEYC Center for Applied Research It is not play versus learning, but play and learning examines the tension between play and academic achievement in early childhood education. What do we want for young children? Kyle Snow, Ph.D.

The skills your preschooler learns through play, and how you can help.

Don't underestimate child's play. It may look like leisure time, but when children are playing house, fighting imaginary dragons or organizing a game of hopscotch, they're actually developing crucial life skills - and preparing their brains for the challenges of adulthood.

Think that physical activity is just good for the body? Turns out exercise can help youngsters do better in school too First Lady Michelle Obama may be on to something with her unflagging "Let's Move" admonitions - the latest research shows that physical activity may help children do better in school.

There's little dispute that physical activity is good for kids: It not only helps develop muscles and fend off obesity, it also offers opportunities to socialize and learn new skills. Getting kids active is a key component of first lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move campaign, which says "children need 60 minutes of play with moderate to vigorous activity every day to grow up to a healthy weight."

When it comes to brain development, time in the classroom may be less important than time on the playground. "The experience of play changes the connections of the neurons at the front end of your brain," says Sergio Pellis, a researcher at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, Canada.

Playing with others is important to a child's development. Life skills are learned when children play that can help them to make and keep friends. As a parent you can encourage your child to take part in healthy playtime by taking your child to a park to play with other children or by joining an organized play group.

Ample time for unstructured play is essential to children becoming confident, intelligent, creative, and successful. In particular, outdoor playtime can expand children's imagination, stimulate all their senses, and free their spirits. Some ideas for parents who want to protect playtime.

We've all been there. The thundering steps across the tarmac. The nervous glance over your shoulder. The hand reaching for you with a shout of "You're it!" Playing tag is a staple of most childhoods and, for me, rushing across the playground at break was the only time my imagination really came alive.

More Education Secretary Arne Duncan to Step Down in December 36 Colleges Where Women Graduates Out-Earn Men 7 Surprising Facts About Women Who Earn Less Than Men In classrooms across the country, the countdown to summer vacation has begun.

A recent article in Scientific American by Paul Tullis looks at how pre-schools have been using more and more time for directed study and lectures and less and less time for what preschoolers typically do-play. The result, according to developmental psychologists, is disastrous.

Ever wished you were someone else, even just for a little while? With dress up play, your preschooler can be anyone he likes, from a superhero to the king of the castle. And while dress up play is an incredibly fun activity for little kids, it's also a very important one, helping them build up their vocabulary as well as their confidence.

Play is very important for your child's development. There are many different types of play. The most important thing is to make sure your child is in a safe and secure environment. When we play, we live happier, healthier lives and have a more positive outlook on life. Play is fun.