Ask the Experts by Dana M. Alpern, Ph.D.
Q. Why is playing so important in early childhood?
A. Play is an essential component of growth and development for young children - enhancing their physical, cognitive, emotional and social skills. Though playfulness appears to be second nature for most children, play is actually highly complex, and is one of the earliest means by which we explore our environment and engage with others. A March 2009 report published by the Alliance for Childhood, a nonprofit partnership of educators, health professionals, and other advocates for children, identifies 12 key types of play, each of which helps children develop skills and promote growth. They are large motor; small motor, which develops dexterity; mastery, which involves repetitive actions such as tying shoes; rule-based, which encourages children to create their own rules and adapt them to group play; construction, which requires motor coordination and imagination; make-believe play; symbolic, which involves the transformation of an everyday object into a toy or game; language play, which includes songs, stories, and dramatic play; playing with the arts, which promotes creativity; sensory play, using materials with different textures, sounds, and smells; rough-and-tumble play, which helps children learn to be assertive but not aggressive; and risk-taking play, in which children learn to master challenges.
Q. Should young children have time to play in school?
A. Yes. We have all heard the adage "all work and no play make Jack a dull boy," and current developmental research proves this to be true. Children who "work hard at play "often excel in literacy and mathematics. They are also better adjusted socially and emotionally, display greater creativity and intellectual curiosity, have stronger communication skills and show greater initiative.
Q. What is a healthy balance between academic instruction and playtime in an early education classroom?
A. In the last decade many early education programs have increasingly focused on a narrow range of literacy and math skills geared toward meeting rigorous state guidelines and proficiency on standardized tests. Many students in kindergarten spend up to six times as much time on those skills and testing or test prep as they do in free play or "choice time." Many educational psychologists do not see this as a "healthy balance," and instead recommend classrooms richer in child-initiated play, along with teacher-guided learning that includes project-based experiential activities.
Dr. Dana Alpern is the Lower School Psychologist at University Liggett School. She can be reached at dalpern@uls.org or 313-884-4444. University Liggett School is a member of The Family Center's Association of Professonals.
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Play in Early Childhood
