Importance of Play

The Importance of Play!

Have you ever had a teacher leave your house after a home visit and think that all they did was play? The reason that they do this is because children learn through play. What looks like play is actually learning. Many people have forgotten what it is really like to be little and put the emphasis on learning over playing, which Bev Bos calls childhood amnesia. Now you may be asking, “Who is this Bev Bos person and why does what she says about play matter?” Bev Bos (1934-2016) was an advocate for children learning through play. She started off as a parent volunteer at Roseville Community Preschool and then went on to be the director for nearly 50 years. She authored books on play, gave thousands of presentations at conferences, and even made music for children. She believes in developmentally appropriate and children-led activities. She emphasized that children are unique and that when parents, teachers and children work together, their learning is so much richer.

So what can parents do to incorporate Bev Bos philosophies into their lives? She has some very simple ideas that can lead to big changes with you and your child. Here are just a couple basic ones:

-Let your child do things instead of you doing it for him/her. We understand that there are times when you have time constraints and this isn’t always possible. Instead, incorporate times into your day when your child can have extra time to tackle these challenges. When you have a relaxed day, let your child feed him/herself or try to put on his/her own shoes. You may be surprised how much your child can do.

-Children need hands-on experiences. Curiosity and hands-on experiences are what really help children learn. If you are cooking, let your child help. What happens when they pour in water? What happens if they stir too fast? These may seem like little things to you, but for your child, they are learning experiences. Hands-on experiences lead to problem solving skills.

- “If what we want for our children is a lifetime of excellence—in experience, in ability, in knowledge—we must be responsible enough to wait and thorough enough to look at all sides of their development” Kindergarten used to be a time when children would practice social relationships and have meaningful experiences, with some academics incorporated into the curriculum. Now, Kindergarten has been replaced with high academics and testing. School has changed, not children. Allow children to focus on sensory activities, playing outside, stacking blocks, and PLAY! Academics will come with it, but shouldn’t be the focus.

Let your teacher know if you would like to know more information about Bev Bos and other ways to incorporate her teachings into your home visits and daily lives!

Sources:

http://inachildspath.com/activities-for-kids/bev-bos/

https://playvolutionhq.com/bev-bos/#:~:text=Bev%20Bos%20(1934%2D2016),50%20years%20as%20its%20director.

https://www.communityplaythings.com/resources/articles/2016/bev-bos-on-play