I want to share this link to a Moving Smart article.
It talks much the "Academic Creep". Parents want their children ready for Kindergarten and that is understandable.
But I will warn against the movement towards learning Only letters and numbers.
Education is so-o-o-o-o much more.
And I quote:
Early childhood learning is a personal, follow-your-nose journey of play and exploration with no other agenda than what's fun and fascinating right now. That's nature's educational plan. In fact, a three year old's brain is far more receptive to learning from mudpies and monkeybars than ABCs and 123s right now.
It talks much the "Academic Creep". Parents want their children ready for Kindergarten and that is understandable.
But I will warn against the movement towards learning Only letters and numbers.
Education is so-o-o-o-o much more.
And I quote:
Early childhood learning is a personal, follow-your-nose journey of play and exploration with no other agenda than what's fun and fascinating right now. That's nature's educational plan. In fact, a three year old's brain is far more receptive to learning from mudpies and monkeybars than ABCs and 123s right now.
Of course, gently introducing them to new things they haven't found on their own is a great way to expand their learning horizons. But expecting them to engage or "perform" academically or in any other arena, is another matter entirely. They'll do their best to oblige us, of course, but if they can't, all we're doing is setting the table for unnecessary stress and frustration.
So before you try to "keep up with the Joneses", Ask yourself, is it good for the children?
The pic here shows a 2 year old and 4 year old using multiple tools.
With interlocking cubes, they:
- measured lengths of table and objects
- filled spaces (dinosaur footprint)
- used cognitive skills (sorted colors)
- used large muscles (hammered the blocks)
Not to mention they colored around the cubes and the dinosaur you see here.
All these skills prepare their fingers for using that almighty writing tool,
The Pencil.
ATTENTION:
This is what Play looks like!
