Why Play?

In the past few days I’ve read three thought provoking articles about how young minds learn and why children need to play. The first is called In Defense of Play-Based Education written by a mother on why she chose a play-based preschool for her child. The second is a study by the Alliance for Childhood called: Crisis in the Kindergarten: Why Children Need to Play in School and the third, in the Boston Globe: Pressure-Cooker Kindergarten.

Children learn through play. Most of us know this and who doesn’t love to play? As an adult I thrive on play. I thrive on using time senselessly, mindlessly, and having the luxury to think or not think—sometimes my best solutions come out of this non-thinking. 

According to the Crisis in Kindergarten study “Kindergartners are now under great pressure to meet inappropriate expectations. … At the same time, they are being denied the benefits of play—a major stress reliever.” It goes on to say “Given the high rates of psychiatric disturbances among children today, it is critically important that early education practices promote physical and emotional health and not exacerbate illness.”

This got me to thinking about my five-month old. He’s learned a lot and it has come through play and his playful interactions with his caregivers. Ivan has learned how to grab things, communicate, and express his likes and dislikes. All of this came through what we consider ‘play.’ But beyond that I can see he is learning and developing skills that he will need for life beyond mom and dad. Through his toys he has learned cause and effect—if I pull this string music will play, if I put my hand here a bell will ring, if I giggle the adults will make funny faces.

In the Boston Globe article several educators who were interviewed talked about striking the balance among testing, curriculum, and the need to make learning fun. Imagine being a five year-old and frustrated by not being able to read but being forced to and not wanting to disappoint the adults around you that you trust. Setting up students for success is a better way to ensure that they will be excited about continuing on with school.

Another thought about why play is important for young children is consideration for teachers and caregivers. On a community coalition conference call, Susan Anderson-Newham, a librarian with the Pierce County Library and Early Learning Public Library Partnership member, mentioned that she is developing a new training on how to use humor in early literacy. This is in response to learning that care providers often feel stressed. As many families know, when mom is happy the child and family are happier; I would guess the same goes at child care—when the teachers are happy they are better able to give of themselves.

This doesn’t mean that children should be running free and having free-play all of the time. As the report says there needs to be a balance between playing and learning, and the two do not need to be mutually exclusive. Constructive play is a great way to learn.

Let’s keep the focus on children and provide them what they need to grow, learn, and thrive. Tonight I will go home and let Ivan play, and play with him. Some of that play may be holding him up and letting him stand (which he likes to do), some of the play may be with books and allowing him to throw them (again cause and effect and repetition—how many times will I pick them up for him?). No flash cards, Baby Einstein, or pressure cooker learning for us. We need to play!

UPDATE

Here is more information on the importance of play from Zero to Three: http://www.zerotothree.org/site/DocServer/The_Truth_About_Play.pdf?docID=9381