Let them play
Pre-school burnout.
How can that possibly be a reality?
Research suggests that schools are changing and becoming more and more focused (fixated?) on academic achievement. They are pushing for academic rigour from earlier and earlier on - which is resulting in pre-schoolers experiencing academic pressure before they are emotionally ready for it. The result of that is overly anxious children, negative behaviours, aggression and school failure before they are in grade 3 (Almon, 2013).
In decades gone by, children were simply expected to arrive at school, play, eat and play some more until they were grubby and exhausted. That’s why it was called Play School. However, the expectation has slowly shifted and it is becoming more about learning - learning to read, learning to count and learning to write. Learning to achieve. In other words, we see pre-school as a mini version of school and a place where children are expected to learn. However, they are not cognitively ready to do it and miss the value of learning to play if the focus is too academic. Deep foundational lessons are learnt from unstructured, free play (Mulvahill, 2019).
Stephen Hinshaw (University of California) says that learning to play is the basis of cognitive skill development and that this is even more important than learning to read at an early age. We sometimes benchmark early reading development as a skill that should be achieved by grade one, but research indicates that grade 3 is a better benchmark by which to evaluate a child's reading. Up until grade 3, children are learning to read. After grade 3, they are reading to learn and any delays in reading might be indicative of a learning barrier (Almon, 2013).
There is little evidence to support that learning to read early makes you a better reader. In fact, there is more evidence that it creates challenges for learners because of undue pressure. If a child can read and is self-directing their learning, that’s great, and it can be encouraged. However, when children are placed under pressure to do something in order to meet curriculum requirements that are based on inappropriate expectations, then one has to reconsider the value of it.
Our world is fast paced.
It is full on.
There are so many distractions.
And they are only little once.
So if you’re a parent, or interact with young children at all, take a moment this week to play without trying to teach them anything.
Let them guide you and watch their imaginations come alive.
Sources:
https://www.weareteachers.com/kindergarten-burnout/