ExchangeEveryDay Past Issues

And long live play and Magda Gerber's Educaring® Approach that fosters self-initiated exploration and discovery from birth!

*Play is key! I'm so glad to hear it's being written about again, with new research!
Children learn through play, and all people benefit when play is honored and supported in society. The testing industry is money-driven. We should Support developmentally-appropriate assessment tools like the C.O.R., High/Scope's assessment tool. It supports children's play, through observation and anecdotal note-taking of children's play, and then using those notes to plan the next day's activities, based on the children's interests. Children learn when intrinsically motivated, in other words, when they choose their own activities. The adults can support their play in a myriad of ways, except trying to control it! ;) Long live play and the High/Scope curriculum, where play is the focus!

Play begins at birth, taught Magda Gerber. Her organization, Resources for Infant Educarers®, has produced a new film beautifully demonstrating just that, which Bev Bos endorses with the following statement: “All the conditions for human growth exist in play. My hope is that every person who has made the decision to have a child would have access to this film, See How They Play. with their families. And, to watch it again and again! What a world this could be!” Dr. Stuart Brown, head of The National Institute for Play, writes: "When one watches See How They Play, the emerging elements of joy and competency can be seen vividly in their primal forms, fostered by clear non-obtrusive guidelines. RIE® professionalism sustains the setting of trust, independence and safety, allowing spontaneous play to guide the children as their development proceeds. Science now affirms our need for play as a fundamental survival drive, often hijacked by misplaced societal norms. Every parent who loves their child needs to view this film." www.rie.org

I found the video linked with this newsletter to have a great information. I would love to share it with the pre-service early childhood teachers and parents that I work with. However, the opening scene that had several children bouncing on a trampoline together portrays a very dangerous activity that sends many children to the ER every day. I can not use the video, regardless of how wonderful the overall message, because of the dangers portrayed.