Amy,
I too see Dr. Browns point on adults need for play. Children learn through observation and modeling. As with social-emotional learning, children won't "get it" if a teacher is screaming to be kind and stop yelling to a child. The adult needs to practice these skills as well in order to best teach it. I believe the same holds true for play. The more the teacher finds value in play in their own life, the better they will be able to support children through play.
I've posed the question of what do the adults in the group do to play themselves a few times now. I often hear the same few responses: "Try to join in the dramatic play area with my students", "I play on my phone", "I watch netflix", etc.
If we want children's play to be separated from screen time, what precedent do we set for ourselves?
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Heather Ha
PPPIF Facilitator
Program Manager
CHI St. Joseph Children's Health
Lancaster, PA
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-08-2019 07:47 AM
From: Amy Latta
Subject: The Opposite of Play Is...
I referenced Dr. Brown in a training I did about why adults need play. I absolutely think that because children are moving and playing less, their anxiety and negative behaviors increase. I've talked to so many elementary teachers that have decided to come to preschool because they were frustrated by the restrictions put on students. I'd love to see more of the project approach in elementary schools; we use it in preschool and it gives the children so many opportunities to learn, build resilience, move, share their interests.
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Amy Latta
Lead NC PreK Teacher
"All that is gold does not glitter; not all who wander are lost." --J.R.R. Tolkien
Original Message:
Sent: 08-06-2019 10:03 PM
From: Tonya Satchell
Subject: The Opposite of Play Is...
Dr. Stuart Brown, founder and president of the National Institute For Play, says that the opposite of play is not work, it's depression. Do you agree? Do you see a reduction in play in our early childhood programs, especially our public prekindergarten and kindergarten programs? Do you think there is a connection between the reduction of play and the increase in suspension and expulsion? How do we address the achievement/opportunity gap while still ensuring that children have adequate time to play!
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Tonya Satchell
Columbia MD
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