Play is the Work of Childhood
9/28/2019
A few parents have asked me recently when we are going to start learning our numbers, the alphabet, and other “school-type” things. At PNA the curriculum we use is the Creative Curriculum for Preschool by Teaching Strategies. It is based on the premise that the best way to help children succeed is to teach them to be creative, confident thinkers. That means offering them opportunities for hands-on exploration and discovery that help build lifelong critical thinking skills and fostering confidence. One reason I love this curriculum is that it ties-in so well with the concept of 21st Century Skills. These are skills, abilities and learning dispositions which educators agree that students will need to be successful in the 21st-century world. In preschool we primarily focus on the first four of these skills: communication, critical thinking, creativity and collaboration. https://www.gettingsmart.com/2017/09/ten-strategies-to-help-children-build-21st-century-skills/ Every day we are constantly striving to help students communicate effectively with each other. Learning how to take turns in discussions and listen with respect are challenging but vital skills for preschoolers. Our goal is to provide a language-rich environment which foster enthusiastic group discussions and conversations. These discussions help children begin to learn the vocabulary and conventions of effective communication. Having lots of playtime during the day enables children to practice these skills. We also strive to help children develop critical thinking skills and use a wide range of problem-solving techniques during their days at school. We try to help children think critically by providing materials which can be used in a variety of ways, asking lots of open-ended questions, and allowing children time to develop hypotheses and reach their own conclusions. Again, it is vital to provide plenty of opportunities for play and investigation, so children may practice these critical thinking skills. Creativity in early childhood is more than just art projects; creativity is at the heart of problem-solving and innovation and discovery. At PNA our goal is to provide an environment where creative play experiences are possible, imagination is encouraged, and the process of creating is emphasized rather than the product. Of course, we make time for lots of art projects and coloring to help things like fine motor development, but we also make art and other materials available to the children every day and allow them to experiment with them in their own ways. Young children learn collaboration as they watch and then gradually share play experiences. Through these experiences they begin to learn about friendship and the value of working together. We also encourage collaboration by facilitating small and large group activities, games and project-based activities. Every day we are encouraging children listen to the ideas and perspectives of others and to work together, make compromises as necessary. So, although you won’t see lots of worksheets coming home with your child, we will certainly be working with letters, numbers, and those sorts of academic things! Meanwhile, I want you to be assured that your children are very much engaged in learning! Maria Montessori, Piaget, and Fred Rogers are all credited with the phrase “Play is the work of childhood”, and I truly believe that! If we can foster the 4 C’s of 21st Century Skills through play-based learning experiences, your children will be better prepared for the rest of their academic careers. And, if we can help students learn these skills in an atmosphere of kindness and joy, they will develop a life-long enthusiasm for learning! What a gift!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Melissa SmithMs. Smith has a degree in Early Childhood Education and has taught kindergarten for many years. Alaska has been home to Ms. Smith for 28 years, and she can't imagine living anywhere else! She has four children, a dog and two cats. She loves reading, camping, gardening, and genealogy! Archives
April 2021
Categories |