The Importance of Play in Early Childhood In life, no action is absent of a reaction. Every effect is linked to a cause, whether seen or unseen and play is no exception. As adults, play is not a foreign concept to us, we just chose not to engage in it and have diminutive space for it reserved in our day-to-day schedules. However, it is essential in the lives of young children. In the moment, the benefits to play are invisible, yet they are there working. Play, like a Newton’s cradle, remains stationary while not in use and the energy remains in a potential state waiting to be activated. Now, imagine the Newton’s cradle as you are pulling back the first ball. The first ball is play in a child’s life, and the other balls are potential benefits. …show more content…
Cognitive development in retrospect is the building of thought processing, decision making, problem solving, and critical thinking skills (Merriam-Webster). By engaging in imaginative play, children are forced to imagine make-believe scenarios and maintain a single roll captivating that roles thoughts and actions. Such situations make children express both positive and negative feelings as well as work through problem solving scenarios where they may be led to critically think their actions and what each outcome could lead to. As children are forced to integrate emotion with cognition, the mental growth occurs at the hands of the child (Jent, Niec, & Baker, 2011; Seja, & Russ, 1999; Slade and Wolf, 1999). The building of cognitive skills at an earlier age will encourage children to explore the world around them making the world their eternal classroom leading them to …show more content…
However, despite the unquestionable link to a brighter future for the children who engage in it, less and less time is being allotted for play in the classrooms. As standards for what children are expected to know at younger and younger ages continues to rise along with the demand for standardized testing from the state, time for play is being sacrificed. Adults are choosing to get rid of time for unstructured play and recess to make time for this new testing interfering with the time allotted for children to learn independently through play. Cutting play and recess is a mistake, and here is why: “recess gives students time for social interactions: for students must be able to initiate, negotiate, cooperate, share, and build relationships with one another--skills that are highly valued in the adult world but that often are quite different from work or play under adult supervision and control” (Chang). Those skills learned through play, are often not the sole purpose of a classroom lesson and could potentially be the only place they learn those needed skills. Play is an affective measurement in the classroom as well as outside of the classroom and children can learn so much from it if only given the chance
Leong was featured in the May 2003 issue of the NAEYC’s Young Children. The article explores the conflict between children's play and meeting academic standards; more frequently, teachers are forced to limit playtime in order to teach essential skills to students; however because of limited imaginary play, increased academic demands of young children, and more realistic toys, children are almost unable to imagine. Although play has been proven to benefit children’s cognitive and social development, administrators do not consider it to be an important aspect of young children’s education. Because of this, preschool and kindergarten teachers are put in a challenging predicament; in order to compensate for children’s lack of play, teachers would need to prioritize play development at the level in which they prioritize phonics awareness and fine motor skills development. Although it is difficult to do, it is not impossible to incorporate play into the curriculum. Teachers can facilitate mature play by providing multi purpose props, encouraging children to create their own props, and allowing time for children to plan their roles and scenarios for dramatic play. In addition to play helping children develop foundational skills and concepts necessary to master math and reading, it has been shown to increase classroom cooperation, the effectiveness of instructional time, and the number of friendships developed in the
With an increasing demand for higher standardized testing scores, schools are finding themselves in a tough position. The huge question being asked is how do we create more time for students to learn common core. The simple answer is, we don’t! Incorporating more time for recess is the key to success for students everywhere. Many researchers and educators alike agree that participating in recess increases students’ cognitive, academic, and social skills. The amount of time allotted for recess should be increased for students of all ages. A child’s well-being encompasses more than just academia. Children spend almost eight hours a day at school, sometimes more. The school system and
"I believe quite strongly that there is great value in play. Play is learning lessons that often can't be learned anyplace else.’’1 An unknown middle schooler. Dr. Barros decided to conduct the study after observing a young patient's classroom--to see how antsy the student and his peers were by lunchtime.”They were given no work breaks, save for 15 minutes of quiet snacking at their desks.they were so drowsy”.
Many theorists have tried to define play as a concept, however, no two agree on a set definition. Their backgrounds and induvial lifestyles influence the way they see the importance of play. Reed and Brown also believe that there isn’t an agreed definition of play because is something that is felt rather than done (Reed & Brown, 2000 cited in Brock, Dodd’s, Jarvis & Olusoga, 2009). In spite of this, it is clear that most theorists uphold the ethos that play is imperative to a child’s learning and development. There is a wide range of different studies and theories which helps us develop our own perception of what play is. In my personal experience I have found play to be a way of expressive our emotions, exploring and learning new things, thus
In the “The Crucial Role of Recess in School” (2012) article it explains, many schools are beginning to replace physical activity, like recess, with more attention to academic subjects. What these schools are forgetting is that well-supervised recess also has benefits that surpass academics. They help make a well rounded student because recess offers cognitive, social, emotional, and physical benefits to the student when they are young that they carry with them into adulthood.
In her Huffington Post blog article titled Here’s One Way to Wreck a Child’s Education: Take Away Recess, Haley Krischer takes an emboldened stand against the practice of eliminating recess; which is often done as a punishment or to make more time for instructional learning. I stand in agreement with Krischer. I do not agree with schools taking away recess for any reason with the exception of dangerous weather or environmental circumstances. Yet, research indicates how common the 86-ing of recess is occurring in schools. A study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (2010) revealed 77% of school Principals reported taking away recess as a punishment, and 81.5% of schools allow students to be excluded from recess. Krischer begins the article by introducing her 9 year old son and his affinity for recess: “the only subject he will talk about”. She gives examples of how recess benefits her son such as other students who help him troubleshoot technology issues and challenging him to improve his sports skills. Indeed, the unstructured playtime allows children to explore their environment and develop new ideas and understandings of it and those within it (American Pediatric Association, 2013). Kischer also expressed that children need active play to combat restlessness and that this is especially important for children who may suffer from ADHD, noting that taking away recess as a punishment for misbehavior may be counterproductive and result in increased behavioral problems. A longitudinal study that followed over 10,000 students between the ages of 8 and 9 concluded that student recess of at least 15 minutes resulted in better behavior as rated by teachers (Samuels, 2009).
Everyone knows that recess is good for children, but most people do not know why, thus leaving room for schools to cut down or altogether cut out recess. This can damage children and inhibit learning. In 2005, an estimated 40% of schools had cut back or eliminated recess from the average elementary student’s school day (Bland). Teachers may need more instructional time to meet the new demand from standardized testing, but extended unstructured play is essential. It increases children’s cognitive abilities by promoting healthy chemical exchanges within the brain during physical activity, giving more room for creativity, and improving social skills.
Hobbs’ article, “Dallas ISD trustee pushes mandatory recess in elementary schools,” he explains the major advantages that come along with recess. It has become more common for schools to take away recess. The reason being is either that they use this extra time for academics, or they take it away as a punishment. He added, “Numerous studies have discussed the importance of recess in improving social and emotional health and learning”(Hobbs.) Recess is a vital part of a child’s day. Although recess has been a traditional practice in elementary schools, many schools around the United States are starting to reduce or completely take this time away from the kids. Recess contributes many positive attributes to a child’s growth physically and mentally. It challenges not only their social skills, but also their physical kids. It allows them to gain confidence in making friends. It also allows them to get the proper exercise needed
Playing may seem like such a modest task, that cannot possibly change a child’s health or mental status. However, play therapy has transformed the world of pediatric nursing, it is an essential part of any child’s treatment. Play therapy is a form of counselling in which play is used as means of helping children express or communicate their feelings. Play therapy began in 1965, by a therapist trying to gain access to a child’s inner life and trust. Nurses later discovered that play therapy could be used as a nursing intervention to gain the trust of their small patients and help in the difficult process of being hospitalized. It is known that children’s mental health decline while being hospitalized, using
“In the education of the American people, I am recess” - Garry Marshall. To begin, recess is a good factor in schools is it can increase the capability of children to become friendly and have more sociable skills. Recess in middle schools can also cause students to learn better when the efforts are distributed. This means that students need a breather between their education, so the mind can gather all the intel and not forget it. However, critics may say that recess is not a necessity in schools due to the amount of money that has to be put for outside equipment. To include, recess is not beneficial in schools because children already get a period to exercise, social, and stay healthy. It is significant to hear out both of each side because
“More than 40 percent of school districts across the country, … have done away with recess or are considering it” (Mulrine). This is a ridiculously high number when considering all the benefits that recess has on young children. Children develop and improve so many basic skills, as well as just simply getting a brain break. Educators, however, believe they need more time in the classroom in order to learn more information. What they need may be just the opposite. Researchers of Albert Einstein College of Medicine have found, “ ‘Recess may play an important role in the learning, social development, and the health of children’ “ (“Let Them Play”). Specifically, fourth grade students and younger should be required
Elementary school aged children should have longer recess time in America because it provides better overall health. Many other countries allow children more play time during the school day and they found it makes them more attentive in the classroom afterwords. The American Academy of Pediatrics believe it’s crucial and necessary for children development. So why is America trying to cut back this time of play? Many schools are enforcing such standardized testing and want more time for academics instead of adding to recess time.
SUMMURY Marketing is an important element of a business plan. As a man needs food to survive, business needs marketing to succeed. According to Dibb, Simkin, Pride, and Ferrell, ‘Marketing consists of individual and organizational activities that facilitate and expedite satisfying exchange relationships in a dynamic environment through the creation, distribution, promotion and pricing of good, services and ideas’(Dibb). Our product ‘Playhaler’ is an anxiety decreasing pressurized metered-dose-inhaler (MDI) asthma administration device, which helps in controlling asthma in young children.
...ctive. Play is an essential learning tool and one that must not be ignored within the classroom. It is a catalyst to help children develop socially, emotionally, physically and cognitively. It is not only an important part of a child’s development as a pupil but also a child’s development as an individual.
All day in the classroom, kids are being told: “Be quiet. Sit still. Be quiet. Sit still,” says Nelly Torres, a parent of a first and fourth grader in the Chicago Public Schools. “That’s because they need their recess,” or look at it this way: “Think about how grown-ups would like it if their bosses took away their lunch hours and dictated how they spent it” (Adams). According to kids, recess is just a time out of the classroom to play on monkey bars or the tire swing. What students may not realize is that it actually helps them grow in many ways. Teachers can also utilize the time recess provides to complete tasks such as grading homework or revising lesson plans. Elementary students should continue to have recess because