Why are Preschool Programs Becoming Less Effective?
ALL Children Deserve Play
I’ve been busy behind the pages of this blog.
Between conferences and workshops and the planning meetings that accompany those trainings, a common topic emerged, something I’ve been mulling over a bit. It is this: Is play as a valuable part of early childhood classrooms more likely to be challenged when applied to low-income populations – children who may be viewed as “behind?” Is it harder to get support for developmentally appropriate practices for children who need the most developmental support?
[Read more…]Play is the Therapy We All Need Right Now
It’s been said that we’re all going through a collective traumatic event right now. And while we try to shield our young children from much of it, they are still touched on some level.
Supporting the Power of Play at Home
There’s been a lot to take in over the past few weeks. A lot of change. A lot of questions.
The High Cost of Pervasive Passivity and Why Play Matters
A preschool director once relayed to me an observation she made at her community center. She watched as a mother plucked her child from the waters of the pool at the end of his swimming lesson, quickly dried him and dressed him right on the deck, and then delivered him, minutes later, to his karate class. She wondered at how passive his role in the whole exchange was, as though he was merely a passenger on the high-speed train that was his life.
The Paradox of Sitting Still in Preschool
Sometimes, when people picture what learning looks like, they imagine perfectly quiet children in perfectly arranged rows, sitting perfectly still.
Sounds perfect.
But research tells us that’s not always what learning looks like. Especially when it comes to young children.
Advanced Content Coverage at Kindergarten: What Can We Really Learn from this Controversial New Study?
The debate over the roles of play and academics in kindergarten is not new. While my first response to this tired argument is always that it is a false dichotomy, a more specific challenge has recently entered the arena and therefore deserves a more specific response.
Recess Responses: Challenging 5 Common Excuses for the Removal of Playtime
Hit this Reset Button on Grumpy Days
I don’t remember what it was that set him off in the first place. But he had passed annoyed and had clearly moved on to angry.
