Let Our Children Play!

I'm waxing nostalgic today after spending the weekend cleaning out my childhood home. Side by side with my siblings, we dusted off boxes and sorted through stuff and memories. Having eaten Grandma's spaghetti sauce for the last time in that kitchen has left me with a lot more than dinner to digest.

My parents bought the house in 1949 after they got married and my father went to work while my mother stayed at home, eventually caring for eight children. There were many other stay-at-home moms in the neighborhood and we had lots of playmates. In between school, family dinners, weekly visits from the grandparents, chores and Sunday evening bath and pajamas before dinner rituals, we had a lot of playtime. We explored the neighborhood, played organized games, invented games and overall learned about ourselves, other people and life.

We had no idea how lucky we were to be normal children living in a time when normal had a wide range and was something to strive for. Our upbringing taught us to fit in and it also allowed room for each of us 4 boys and 4 girls to be individuals, pursuing our own dreams in our own timeframes. As far as I can tell, everybody is still normal although not alike; we are chipping in for the common good of clearing out the house and taking care of my mother who once took care of us.

When I say normal, I don't mean perfect. We aren't. My childhood had its share of bumps, bruises, bad choices and unfulfilled expectations; that's what makes it so normal; without them I'd be too special to be able to join the group and pitch in, to do my part as child #4 in a litter of 8.

There is a lot of concern today about children's readiness for learning and so the emphasis has shifted away from play to skill-based curriculums and teaching test skills. This is meant to make children advance. Research shows that the more economically-deprived the children, the more emphasis on curriculum which is actually widening the performance gap. Research also indicates that the most important early childhood lesson is self-control. If all other factors are even, it's self-control that will decide who succeeds and who does not.

Three other reasons to bring back play and a developmentally appropriate early childhood curriculum are:
1. The link between violent behavior in young children and lack of developmentally appropriate play
2. The correlation between play and our national genius for inventiveness (that we are emphasizing for our future economy)
3. Play is the best way to teach self-regulation or self control.

There are groups of early childhood educators in Washington, DC and New York City that are gathering to advocate the return of play. For more information, go to these websites:
http://www.npr.org/2011/02/14/133629477/for-kids-self-control-factors-into-future-success
http://www.indefenseofchildhood.org/index.html
http://www.deborahmeier.com/Columns/column06-11.htm

Consider becoming an advocate for children; they are voiceless and activism can make a difference. The research is clear; the American Pediatric Association has come out in favor of play. Children need to learn self control, creativity and to cooperate within a group. Once they are allowed to be normal; children's unique gifts and talents can blossom. I heard it jokingly said that "normal is the new special".