Dear Shirley:
After last week's article on child development I want to know “what has happened to kindergarten?”
Child's Play
Dear Childs Play:
Kindergarten has gone through a metamorphism. We are in changing times and I have been told by many that ”Change is good.” We have to believe that there is better to come out of a transformation of old patterns. Take a moment and think back to what kindergarten meant to you and what you experienced that made it so special?
Now progress forward to see what is ahead for children growing up in this era. On Sept. 15, 2001 President Bush authorized enactment of stimulus for the “No Child Left Behind” Act. On Jan. 1, 2002 it became law for grade K-12.
The Four Basic Education Principles includes: Stronger Accountability for the results, increased flexibility and local control, expanded option for Parents, and an emphasis and teaching methods that are proven to work.
Since the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) the United States educational system has been remolding the expectations of performance through all grade levels, including Kindergarten. The “No Child Left Behind Act” mandates three hours per day of reading, writing, and arithmetic in Kindergarten. Thus, you see change. Kindergarten is no longer allowed to be structured as time for discovery through creative play. Instead it has become the new first grade.
A rebuttal was written by Hirsh-Pacek, of Temple University who is a Societal and Cognitive Development. As a proven researcher she states, “In the early formative years children learn through play which is vital for their social and cognitive development. She emphasizes, “Decades of research have shown that young children learn best through active exploratory play guided or non-guided by adults. They learn spatial skills and counting through simple activities like playing ‘Store, Doctor, House, building forts or cabins tinker toys, blocks, or Legos'; develop creativity, critical thinking and the ability to learn from failure. These skills are necessary and easily accessible through playing. Simply hearing books read aloud can form a rich vocabulary. The reality is that at a young age children learn best through exploratory play and it is certainly not a waste of time.
Hirsch–Pasek wrote a book called “Einstein Never Used Flash Cards.” She encourages parents to put away the flash cards, push button computer, or learning toys that force them to memorize facts they are not cognitively ready to understand. Rather she supports playing blocks, build a road with them for their trucks or dozers, bake a cake or cookies in their miniature ovens, read to them and emphasize the fun in make believe play.
Hirsh- Pasek found that the introduction of traditional reading, writing, and math which require intense structure and instruction may be introduced too early. She found no difference in academic achievement by first grade between children who had gone to “academic” preschools versus those who came from more play –oriented preschools. She did find, however that children from academic preschools were more anxious.
“The Hurried Child” written in 1981 by Elkind warned about the movement toward pushing children into academics and adulthood too quickly. His most recent publication “The Power of Play” emphasizes the importance of play and the fact that children are losing the opportunity for free unstructured playtime.
What is the Fear? None of us want any child left behind. What was before was and is important. To recognize what is needed and how to best manifest those skills is essential for the success. Take a look at what we are leaving behind by avoiding or prohibiting the very learning tools that provides children with the opportunity to flourish and creatively produce.
“Ask Shirley” questions can be focused on any topics involving life, health, fitness, mental training, competition, clinical issues or addictions. Please, email your questions to Askshirl@gmail.com . All questions will remain anonymous.
Shirley K. Durtschi is an Applied Sport Psychology Certified Consultant (AASP-CC), a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), a Nationally Certified Addictions Counselor and Chemical Dependency Counselor Supervisor (CDCS) for the State of Alaska.
