Why I Like Play Based Preschools

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What is the best kind of preschool, early childhood education, for your child? Because, believe it or not January is the time to register for preschool. You want to understand different preschool styles which is a good fit for you. You will also want to know how to tell if it’s a quality preschool. And, I want you to know why I recommend you try a play based preschool.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, “children in high-quality preschools display better language, cognitive and social skills than children who attend low-quality programs.” The National Institute for Early Education Research (www.nieer.org) adds that “the majority of preschool programs in the United States are not judged as good, with many rated far below that.”

I wrote an for Colorado Parent magazine about the different types of preschools. It should be a good introduction to the difference between Waldorf, Montessori, Play-based, Reggio Emilia, Co-op and British Primary.

After doing research for the article, it seemed that a high-quality, play-based preschool was where I wanted to send my kids.

Play-Based Preschools

January is the time to register for preschool. You want to understand different preschool styles which is a good fit for you. Play-based preschools are my pick.

PLAY-BASED PRESCHOOLS

Benefits of a play based preschool:

Language Development: Socio-dramatic play (pretending) improves children’s vocabulary. If a child is playing he or she is a doctor or a mechanic, he or she will use words and mannerisms to embody that role. In good preschools, the child will be supported with new vocabulary and background knowledge for the play scenario.

Problem Solving: Playing with other children not only develops social skills but problem solving skills as well. As a child seeks to cooperate within the play scenario, he or she must learn to compromise and find solutions to maintain the play.

Self-regulation: Self-regulation is the biggest indicator of future education success. It’s the ability to control one’s impulses, to focus attention. In play it’s the successful ability of the “castle guard” to stand still and guard the castle for ten minutes versus asking a kid to stand skill for ten minutes for no playful reason and watching him fail.

I interviewed Vygotskian researcher Elena Bodrova of McRel here in Denver, Colorado about how a parent can tell if the preschool is a good play-based preschool. (She and Debbie Leong wrote a great book for preschool educators called Tools of the Mind which is a great play-based curriculum guide.) Bodrova said she usually sees three scenarios:

“[1]A free for all,

[2]actually academic activites made into games and drilled, or

[3]intentional make-believe play with roles, play scenarios where children interact with each other .”

A true play-based preschool is the third.

Bodrova adds, “If you see a kitchen in September and it’s still a kitchen in May, you aren’t going to get intentional, make-believe play.” When she told me this, I had a child in a local preschool and yes, it had a kitchen all year. It really made me take a closer look at the program and decide to switch.

Incidentally, there’s a lot of research about play in the report The Crisis in Kindergarten from the Alliance for Childhood by Edward Miller and Joan Almon. As you know I’m well aware of this issue this year because of my own daughter’s kindergarten experience. I think you’ll want to read this report; it’s really well done and sort of frightening.

It’s clear from years of research that play based learning is how children learn — not academic learning. Yet, schools are increasing the didactic teaching, worksheets, no choice time, no water tables, no blocks, and rejected thoughtful play based learning.

Stay strong, friends – do what’s best for your children and save the academics for when they are developmentally appropriate for a child’s brain, not in preschool.

WHAT KIND OF PRESCHOOL DO YOU PREFER AND WHY?

High Quality Early Childhood (Preschool) Environments
Flashcards or Fingerpaints?

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16 Comments

  1. I am a homeschooling mom, and I feel young children can learn a lot through playing. I wrote a simple rhyming book entitled Jobs of a Preschooler that shows the various “jobs” a preschooler may do throughout her day…most of which involve play and imagination.

  2. Está sócia a esse Chackra a autoconfiança e também instinto de sobrevivência,
    a habilidade para comercial, a matemática, a formalidade e também a capacidade para aprender
    e também de incentivar a si mesmo.

  3. I think balance is important when it comes to preschool environments. Child care that encourages mixtures of group learning, independent reading and playing, outdoor exercise, and other interests create a well-rounded experience. Encouraging children to explore new games and topics shapes a curious personality where one loves to learn and grow. For instance, Creative World School http://www.creativeworldschool.com/preschool-tampa-wesley-chapel/index.php has an “exploratorium” – a beautiful room decorated with colorful paintings and a high-dome ceiling that sparks imagination. Additionally, they have large playgrounds where children play outside twice a day in 30 minute intervals. This imaginative and laid back environment lets kids see how fun learning can be.

  4. I taught Montessori for 30 years, with 2 1/2 year olds to 6 year olds. Not only was there lots of social interaction, problem solving, and imagination, the children chose to do what they wanted to do, whether it be making snacks for their friends, washing a table, learning to count to 1000, discovering the world they live in through geography, teaching themselves to read. . ..this list goes on. I had a set of blocks in my room – open ended, imaginary play, but they were hardly ever used. The children would rather use their intellect and build amazing patterns with the Pink Tower (tower of 10 cubes ranging from 1cm to 10 cm) and Brown Stairs (stairs of 10 prisms, ranging from 1cm to 10 cm on the ends) The idea was to make a design, but keep the pattern. This activity was done almost every day, with new ideas popping up all the time. This is just one small part of the classroom where the children chose their own path from their own interests. What we gave them was the opportunity to do so, which I feel is lacking in a play-based classroom. The work of the child in the Montessori classroom is his play!

  5. If a child likes play and a child can and does choose to do activities in a Montessori classroom, then can one say that a Montessori classroom offers play, maybe in a different sense? From what I observe, children love to got Montessori and are always finding “work” that interests them from the 3-5 year old range. It’s not make-believe, but the children seem quitue happy when I observe teh classroom. You say that Waldorf is play-based, didn’t Waldorf spring from Montessori in Europe? Just trying to get my information straight. Thanks for any clarity you can offer.

    1. I don’t know, I’m not a Montessori expert at all. Which is why I have invited one to guest post about Montessori. It will be posted later tonight or tomorrow morning. https://imaginationsoup.net

      I know so many people who love what it gives their children for many reasons. I like how you said it’s maybe a different sense of play.