| Today the question of free play versus learning has | | | | distracted by the constancy of their busy lifestyles and |
| become problematic because so many working | | | | have marked difficulty sitting still or applying themselves |
| parents are just so short of quality family time. Many | | | | to anything for longer than a few minutes. This creates |
| parents feel they owe it to their children to be using | | | | a constant cry of boredom which then creates an |
| this valuable time for their further education. Years | | | | even faster cycle of bewildering, often expensive, |
| back, the need to discuss the notion of play time for | | | | entertainment. |
| children just wasn't raised. Why? | | | | In hindsight, these years of child raising pass by more |
| Children just did it! They played. | | | | quickly than can ever be imagined. Many parents feel |
| Parents just expected it! | | | | that the time they have to spend with their children is |
| The order to Go outside and play, constantly rang in | | | | so short that they better use it facilitating their |
| children's ears. | | | | education rather than play time. |
| Without the busy pace of life that we seem to | | | | However, it is during free play time that children learn |
| assume is normal for today, children were often left to | | | | so much about themselves, about others, and the |
| their own devices. This provided numerous | | | | world around them. They are learning about |
| opportunities to discover personal boundaries of | | | | concentration, self control, self image, self esteem, |
| physical skill, and also provided for lengthy periods of | | | | exploration, mastery of new ideas, time and space, |
| concentrated, creative activity. | | | | peace and creativity - all while they play. They learn |
| Presently, there is a trend, nationwide, to focus even | | | | how to use imagination, how to apply imaginative play |
| more on the fundamentals of learning reading and | | | | to the world around them, how to master observed |
| math, requiring further lessons outside of school. It's | | | | concepts of everyday life through mimicry. |
| difficult for parents to resist trends which make them | | | | In a free play environment, learning is usually |
| feel they are inadequate as parents for not providing | | | | anxiety-free for the child and mostly unobserved by |
| this. Working parents often find themselves providing | | | | adults. Play for a child, is about learning the importance |
| class after class for their children outside of school | | | | of who he is, rather than placing importance on what |
| hours, in the fervent hope that they are being 'good' | | | | he can do. Childhood lasts only a short time. Because |
| parents. | | | | of the constant pressure of expectations each day, |
| However, when opportunities for learning through free | | | | play is an important recovery time also. |
| play are replaced with even more school work, | | | | Play for children is giving them the downtime to repair |
| childhood becomes a constant 'working' environment, | | | | emotionally after a busy working day at school. Just |
| and opportunities for childrens' personal development | | | | as we cannot drive a car with out petrol, we cannot |
| are replaced by educational advancement. | | | | expect children to run on empty. |
| Sadly, many children become anxious and easily | | | | |