“Imagine child’s play as a medieval
castle under siege from all sides,” wrote Kim Mulford in a 2011 article.
Government-mandated standards and assessments, electronic entertainment, and
parental fears are breaking through the fortress walls. Play is under attack.
Who will lead the defense?
Time and again, good teachers have
taken to the front lines to advocate for children. But what if the next generation
of teachers does not realize the tremendous power and necessity of play in the
lives of young children? Quite possibly they themselves did not experience the
un-hindered, natural play of childhood, and may not realize the vast difference
between “entertainment” and “play.”
To counter this challenge, Professor
Mary Ruth Moore maintains that early childhood teaching programs must include
hands-on, real life experiences so the students can learn for themselves the
value of self-directed, active play. Each semester she has her pre-service
teachers create a “play day” on campus for local children using only cardboard
boxes and recycled materials for props. And each time, “something magical
happens.”
0 comments:
Post a Comment