What We Can Do to Advocate for Play and Against Pushed Down Academics...

[CalCare]

In previous posts, we've discussed how academics should be presented in order to prepare children for kindergarten entry exams and how to reconcile that with what we know: that these exams are not developmentally appropriate for young children.
If we aren't teaching early academics, how can the children get this information without us feeding it to them? What will happen when they get to kindergarten without it?
Some have asked what we can do to advocate for children's right to childhood and play.
I want to share some great resources that I have found.Honestly all of these have a lot of really worthy information. Please read if you are the least intrested...

http://www.letthechildrenplay.net/

http://www.ecetrainers.com/sites/default/files/DEY%20Mobilizing%20Kit.pdf

http://www.naesp.org/principal-septemberoctober-2013-early-learning/it-s-playtime

http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/our-publications/every-child-magazine/every-child-index/every-child-vol-16-3-2010/play-based-learning-free-article/

And this is an interesting (though a bit long) read that talks about more adult facilitation and guiding learning academics into the children's play:

http://udel.edu/~roberta/play/Christie.pdf

[Michael]

Dr. Katz, who is an international leader in early childhood education, states that she has always judged it to be inappropriate, if not damaging.

Much has already been written on the subject, and a number of follow-up studies have shown that while in the short term, young children in academic programs seem to do reasonably well on tests, when they are followed up later in the upper elementary grades, they do not seem to benefit at all from the premature academic instruction.

[kidsandchicks]

Thanks for the links, CalCare. I am definitely passionate about play-based child care. All of my kids that have moved on to K in the last few years have been successful so I have gradually put my fears about K preparedness at ease.

[Alisyn]

Great info! Thanks for sharing!