Wednesday, August 14, 2019

The nanny state and helicopter parents

I found this interesting:
...Penning the forward to the new book, Let the Children Play, [Sir Ken] Robinson explains how play helps children develop physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially.

Play, Robinson says, helps children learn to interact with others, to “practice teamwork, communication, and problem-solving.” Children also learn to express their emotions properly and think outside the box when confronting various situations through play.

But will these growth opportunities go by the wayside as society becomes more cautious and bubble-wrapped? How can we ensure that children have the opportunity for “real play,” not just structured physical activity?

Robinson provides four criteria that parents can use to measure “real play”:
Real play is not a particular activity: it is a state of mind, in which all sorts of activities are done, such as playing with sand and water, painting, skipping, climbing, chasing, role play, juggling, and hiding games. It involves all the senses and being physically active. These are some of the common characteristics of real play:
  • It is self-initiated and self-motivated: Real play is freely chosen. If children are forced to play, they may not feel in a state of play at all.
  • It is creative: Children engage in make-believe that bends reality to accommodate their interests and imagination.
  • It is active: Real play engages children physically as well as mentally.
  • It has negotiated rules: The rules of play come from the child, including entry to and from the game and what counts as acceptable behavior within it.

Sir Ken Robinson Explains How Parents Can Know the Four Signs of ‘Real Play’ | Intellectual Takeout

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