Passion is just a part of my personality, but rarely does it turn into anger this quickly. I just finished reading a report that says the average kindergartner in the US spends 4-6 times more time on tests as they do on playing? Ironically, the reasoning from schools is that it is better to start earlier than later (but my honest opinion is that school funding and principal's jobs are connected to increasing test scores). So let's take the fun out of life at the earliest age possible and replace it with stress?
As you are well aware if you are my reading my blog, I'm all for early childhood development and it pains me to see how much child potential is being lost because we underestimate our childrens' ability to learn and begin teaching them way later than we should--but excuse my bad language--making a 5-year old sit through an 1-hour math test is crap. I'd like to hear your opinions on this, but here's mine--structured play does far more to develop the genius potential in your child than testing does.
I could go on forever about the importance of play in early childhood, but I think this report has already done much better job. Check it out yourself, it's enough to get you ticking for the whole day.
PS: I think often parents, myself included, have no idea what's going on behind the closed doors in schools and kindergartens--positive change can only happen if we first pay attention--and then work as a community to move forward. Thanks for your comments...
I personally feel that tests are the teachers' lazy way out of really playing a role in encouraging children to learn in the true sense of the word. In Malaysia we were forced to learn our stuff by rote, not by reasoning, and the resulting thinking faculties in most children and teens are very saddening. Creativity was nipped in the bud for the sake of regurgitating "correct" answers.
thank You so much for gifting your book. I had my grandchildren in mind when I opened it to read, only I found my self absorbed and with tears in my eyes - guess it helped my own inner child and I/we are grateful to you!! To everyone involved with this important issue, I THANK YOU!! Love & Light to You All.
I totally agree with you ,in 4th grade I had the best grades ever, but the teacher made everything into a game , or she involved everyone, she envolved the children in her teaching , she just didn't stand up there and talk,,everyone paticipated, to much studying fries the brain, get to the point of the matter and move on
Im not sure if my comments went threw, so I'll send again,all I'm saying is I agree with you, let me know what we can do to make a change
Personally I feel that the early years are so vital for our children that it frightens me with how many parents are so pre-occupied with what another child is perceived to be achieving, that we forget to allow our children to just be. In the early years it is so vital that children learn to socialise, problem solve, and learn to discover who they are. Flash cards and testing proves very little at this age. Learning through play is far more nourishing to a growing child than knowing whether or not they fit the standard in academics. In countries like Norway and Sweden, children are to start school before the age of eight....so many people in the us, Uk and Australia would gasp with horror at hearing a six year old is allowed to play, and yet they are renowned to having the best education systems in the world.
Children need to learn for themselves how to solve problems, if a child snatches a toy from another...sit back and watch them interact, more often than not they will sort it out without needing parents to run and rescue them. Their world around them is a huge source of education, and should always continue to be. The classroom should only be an addition. We need our children to know it is OK to make mistakes, after all aren't we suppose to learn from them? It is OK to get messy, Ok to be creative, and OK to think for ourselves. If we don't give them this guidance early on how a can we expect them to fully function and contribute to our society if they are always worried about the "right" answer. Thank goodness the likes of Richard Branson, John Travolta, Bill Gates etc didn't just go with what was standard, look at what we would all be missing out on now.
The bottom line for me is to let kids be kids. If they fall over they will always get back up. There is such a small window that allows the children to be individuals, wear fairy dresses down the street, finger paint etc....why deny them this. They have eighty odd years where they can conform, get stressed and grow up, why are we in such a hurry for them to do so at such a young age. Maybe more adults need to feel the sensation of paint on our hands, rain soaked through our bodies and grass under our feet to remember just how much fun being a kid can be.....