Home » ExchangeEveryDay » Giving Children Less



ExchangeEveryDay Past Issues


<< Previous Issue | View Past Issues | | Next Issue >> ExchangeEveryDay
Giving Children Less
September 1, 2015
The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, not the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when you discover that someone else believes in you and is willing to trust you with a friendship.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Today's designed world doesn't leave much room for kids to explore," write Cas Holman in "The Case for Letting Kids Design Their Own Play," in Fast Company

"I've spent time with Penny Wilson, an influential playworker in adventure playgrounds in the U.K., observing children playing. She taught me the important difference between asking kids 'What are you building?' and saying to them, 'Tell me about what you're doing.' When we ask, 'What are you building?' it implies that: a) You should have a goal and be working toward a finished thing, i.e., play is linear; b) you are supposed to be building something (children's understanding of the built world is often limited to houses, so they are confronted with either having done it wrong, or they change their vision to fit their perception of your expectation); c) you should be doing something that you can explain to me.

"We want to avoid all of these rules. So by saying 'tell me about this' we leave the door open to stories about what children are imagining, and they can share challenges, discoveries about putting things together, or any number of things about their experience with their peers and school.

"...Giving children less leaves room for them to contribute more. By allowing them to direct their own play they develop habits of agency, independence, and self-determination. Armed with these skills, they jump in to figure out who they are and will be in the world, rather than waiting for someone to hand them a model to follow."





Loose Parts

Loose parts are natural or synthetic, found, bought, or upcycled materials — acorns, hardware, stones, aluminum foil, fabric scraps, for example — that children can move, manipulate, control, and change within their play.  Loose parts are alluring and beautiful.  They capture children's curiosity, give free reign to their imagination, and encourage creativity.

With more than 550 color photographs of many kinds of loose parts in real early childhood settings, classroom stories, and a dynamic overview, this book provides inspiration and information about the ways loose parts support open-ended learning, enhance play, and empower children.  With loose parts, the possibilities are endless.

View and Purchase

ExchangeEveryDay

Delivered five days a week containing news, success stories, solutions, trend reports, and much more.

What is ExchangeEveryDay?

ExchangeEveryDay is the official electronic newsletter for Exchange Press. It is delivered five days a week containing news stories, success stories, solutions, trend reports, and much more.

Learn about the updates and changes to the new edition of the best-selling social-emotional screener ASQ:SE!
Ensure Kindergarten Readiness by Building a Foundation for Success.
Over 100 Teaching Strategies to Support Emotional and Social Learning.


Comments (3)

Displaying All 3 Comments
Peter Luke Gebhardt · September 01, 2015
Aor International
Dallas, TX, United States


In the High/Scope curriculum model, adults in the classroom sometimes use the technique S.O.U.L., to enter into an area where children are playing.
S stands for being Silent, when first entering a children's play area.
O stands for Observing what the children are doing, with all of the senses.
U stands for coming to an understanding of what is happening in that play area; what are the children involved in.
L stands for Language from the children first.
But using an open-ended question like "Tell me about..." can work sometimes too.

Linda Zager · September 01, 2015
Bloomington, Indiana, United States


Yes! I learned this years ago! To say, "Tell me about it or tell me about what you are doing... Forgetting where I learned this, but probably from Reggio Emilia techniques and Bonnie and Roger.

Liz Memel · September 01, 2015
Resources for Infant Educarers
Los Angeles, CA, United States


The famous adage "less is more" was a fundamental guide in the seminal work of infant specialist Magda Gerber. Her teachings allow babies freedom of expression from birth so they learn to be and truly know themselves within securely attached primary and secondary relationships. The film "See How They Play" depicts the contexts for this freedom where adults "do less, observe more and enjoy most." Dr. Stuart Brown says every parent who loves his/her child should see this film. Www.rie.org



Post a Comment

Have an account? to submit your comment.


required

Your e-mail address will not be visible to other website visitors.
required
required
required

Check the box below, to help verify that you are not a bot. Doing so helps prevent automated programs from abusing this form.



Disclaimer: Exchange reserves the right to remove any comments at its discretion or reprint posted comments in other Exchange materials.