Let the Kids Learn Through Play

Bjorn Lie

By DAVID KOHN

TWENTY years ago, kids in preschool, kindergarten and even first and second grade spent much of their time playing: building with blocks, drawing or creating imaginary worlds, in their own heads or with classmates. But increasingly, these activities are being abandoned for the teacher-led, didactic instruction typically used in higher grades. In many schools, formal education now starts at age 4 or 5. Without this early start, the thinking goes, kids risk falling behind in crucial subjects such as reading and math, and may never catch up.

The games Screen time v play time: what tech leaders won't let their own kids do

Amy Fleming

Saturday 23 May 2015 02.30 EDT

Steve Jobs and Jonathan Ive designed some of the world’s most desirable tech – but imposed strict limits on their own children using it. What rules do others set?

When a technology journalist suggested to Steve Jobs, in 2010, that his children must have loved the just-released iPad, he replied flatly: “They haven’t used it. We limit how much technology our kids use at home.” His former righthand man, Jonathan Ive, whose design for the iPad is so simple that toddlers can operate it, recently revealed that he sets strict limits for his 10-year-old twin boys.

Summer Activities

One of our topics this week is Summer Activities, so I am adding the following links:

101 Fun Things To Do in the Summer:
http://www.parenting.com/article/fun-things-to-do-summer

Explore Minnesota: http://www.exploreminnesota.com/things-to-do/all-things-to-do/?keywords=&pageIndex=0&radius=25&mapTab=false&sortOrder=asc&sort=randomdaily&locationid=&region_id=&attrFieldsAtLeast=&attrFieldsAtMost=&startDate=false&class_id=67,71,95,135,70,138&lat=&lon=&city=&pageSize=20&type=reitlistings&attrFieldsOr=&attrFields=region_id

Best in Minnesota 2015: http://www.startribune.com/best-of-minnesota-2015-revealing-what-rocks/302782981/

 

Family Fun Twin Cities:  http://www.familyfuntwincities.com/family-fun-events-calendar/

 

Twin Cities Moms Blog: http://twincities.citymomsblog.com/calendar/

 

 

 

The Devloping Brain, Stress and Trauma

This is a great video on the effects of trauma on the young mind: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4zP50tEad0

Why Slowing Down Stimuli to Real Time Helps a Child’s Brain

By Eric Westervelt, NPR

Feb. 12, 2015

Our “Tools of the Trade” series is taking a look at some of the iconic objects that form a vital part of our educational lives. For an upcoming piece, I’m reporting on how young children learn through that most basic of preschool education tools: simple wooden blocks.

Dr. Dimitri Christakis has done done extensive research on blocks and play and lectured on media and children. He is the Director of the Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development at Seattle Children’s Research Institute. He’s also a pediatrician at Seattle Children’s Hospital and a professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine.

Thanks for sharing Layla!

Hi Val-

 I came across this today and thought it was a perfect thing to share with Ecfe friends. Every time my house is trashed (which is constantly these days) I think back to the day in class you talked about these being the messiest years of parenting.  So true!! 

 

Article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/22/mom-life-anna-angenend_n_7079850.html

The Benefits of Helping Preschoolers Understand and Discuss Their Emotions

Thanks Marnie for sharing this great article from MindShift!

By Deborah Farmer Kris
Terrible Twos. Threenagers. Fearsome Fours.  These are years marked by tantrums and meltdowns — palpable reminders that young children haven’t yet learned how to regulate their emotions. But rather than wait for them to outgrow this phase, caregivers can use this window to teach emotional literacy skills that will yield immediate and long-term benefits.