Before reading the text for this week, I had a very difficult time thinking about the way I play. I play cribbage with my husband, I play with my dog, I play games with my students and children, I like to hike outside… Not much that I felt impacted me as a professional. In their text, Tomas and Brown (2011) talk about how children play and imagination to cope with the amount of new information they are receiving. This is in all areas of their lives. As we grow up, we understand more of the world, so we may not need as much play to help us understand the way things work. Thinking about play in this context, however,very much applies to adult learning the ever changing world of technology. Thomas and Brown (2011) state, “In a world of near-constant flux, play becomes a strategy for embracing change, rather than a way for growing out of it” (Kindle Location 562).
With so much structured instruction time, children hardly have time to play during the school day.This week, I thought about the amount of time that children get to truly play during the school day. They get recess time, but beyond that, they do not get much. In my classroom, I have a “break zone” for students who are needing a break. On Fridays, my 2nd grade group (who I see for 1 hour a day) gets 20 minutes of free time. It is amazing how they gravitate to the play kitchen with fake food. These are 7 and 8 year olds playing with a toy intended for toddlers. They share the food, they bring me “meals,” and they cook food in the oven and on the stove. They are mimicking what they see and as Tomas and Brown would point out, trying to understand the world around them. In his article “Don’t Forget to Play,” Andrew Miller (2013) argues that a reasons for people to play are to predict outcomes, persist challenges, and learn social skills. These are all aspects seen in my 2nd graders free play time. An area that I have been playing with lately (and I am almost embarrassed to admit), is managing my dog’s Instagram account (ridiculous, I know, but if you want to see it @cider_doodle). In many ways, however, it is so similar to children playing to learn the world we live in. I have had my own account for years and learned how the social networking works. This world of social media is ever changing and feels like a puzzle to figure out. Learning what hashtags get followers, who to follow to get followed back, and what pictures get more likes; these are all areas of the network to learn and play with. It has been argued that children learn much better through play. In fact, Kohn (2015), says that formal instruction early on actually inhibits children later in school. He states “it may have the opposite effect, potentially slowing emotional and cognitive development, causing unnecessary stress and perhaps even souring kids’ desire to learn.” So how important is play? I think play is very important. Do kids still need instruction? I think that students still need to learn how to read. By using play ourselves to keep up with the ever changing world, I think we need to remember that children need play just as much as we do. We can do this by planning for play within our lessons, using technology as a tool for play, and using physical movement to promote play (Schimel, 2013). References Kohn, D. (2015, May 16). Let the Kids Learn Through Play. Retrieved February 9, 2017, from https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/17/opinion/sunday/let-the-kids-learn-through-play.ht ml Miller, A. (2013, August 23). Don't Forget to Play! Retrieved February 10, 2017, from https://www.edutopia.org/blog/dont-forget-to-play-andrew-miller Schimel, K. (2015). 3 ways schools can incorporate play into innovative instruction. Retrieved February 9, 2017, from http://www.educationdive.com/news/3-ways-schools-can-incorporate-play-into-innovativ e-instruction/405762/ Thomas, D., & Brown, J. S. (2011). A new culture of learning: cultivating the imagination for a world of constant change. Lexington, KY: CreateSpace? Kindle Edition.
5 Comments
Natalie
2/11/2017 02:32:47 pm
Hi Andrea,
Reply
Andrea Colvin
2/12/2017 05:37:11 pm
Yikes! No recess? There is definitely something very wrong with that. Children need time to be children. I agree with you that play helps develop social skills for the kids.
Reply
2/12/2017 10:29:16 am
Andrea,
Reply
Andrea Colvin
2/12/2017 05:35:55 pm
Josie,
Reply
Sarah K
2/12/2017 10:35:28 pm
Andrea,
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorAndrea Colvin Archives
April 2017
Categories |