Double Journal #9

The three quotes from the online article

"In spite of the fact that the vital importance of play has been shown in study after study, many people believe that play is a waste of time in school. School, they say, should be a place for learning. There’s plenty of time for play at home."
I really do not like the fact that people think that there is plenty of time for play at home. If you think about it a student gets up in the morning and is at school by 7:30-8:00am. They have to sit in a classroom for hours on end while the teacher talks about stuff they should be able to do and know. There is lunch and bathroom breaks. Then the student gets on a bus around 2:30-3:30 and either goes home( which they have to work on the tons of homework given) or they go to an afterschool program until parents are able to pick them up. By the time students get home they have to do homework/ finish it, eat dinner, and get ready for the next day. When exactly is there time for that "plenty of play"?Most a childs life is spent sitting in a classroom learning so that they can do well on a test so that the school and state looks good.

Why Kids Need Recess and Exercise


"Classic play materials like blocks, sand and water tables, and props for dramatic play have largely disappeared from the 268 full-day kindergarten classrooms studied."
I also think this is absurb. If teachers and professionals expect children to learn and retain knowledge children need to be able to connect the learning they do in class with toys or items to play with in class as well. I think that even though a child plays with blocks- there can be learning from the shape of the block, the color, the texture, how many sides that block has, or how many blocks the child has on the floor. Right there are many things that a child is learning- math, colors, textures, etc.. What if the child does not get to play with blocks or dramatic props he or she might never get the thought of building houses for a career or being a nurse because they like taking care of the dolls or other students. There are so many things that children can learn from playing. I have worked in a daycare setting for almost 6 years and have seen all kinds of play that children have done. Currently I work in the infant room with the 6week-6month age range. Young children being able to play builds on their life and helps them learn, it would be like me not letting the infants explore the room- they would be afraid and not succeed.

Should Toys be in Kindergarten Classrooms?


"The power of play as the engine of learning in early childhood and as a vital force for young children’s physical, social, and emotional development is beyond question. Children in play-based kindergartens have a double advantage over those who are denied play: they end up equally good or better at reading and other intellectual skills, and they are more likely to become well-adjusted healthy people."
I agree that the power of play is an engine of learning. Children need that interaction with other children( there age or not) so that they will have a physical, social, and emotional life. If a child in Kindergarten is not allowed to talk during class time or lunch, how are those students going to be able to get along with others if they don't know what to do in the first place. And how are students supposed to get to know each other and their similarities, not letting students socialize could lead to bullying. Finally, if a child is not allowed to play and they only lead a seditary life at school. They might not know how to play and their health could deteriate because the only thing they know is sitting and learning. I agree that when a child hits all the developments they will be able to learn and focus better.

Starting Kindergarten