Comments on: Alliance for Childhood’s Joint Statement of Early Childhood Health and Education Professionals http://www.empoweredbyplay.org/2010/03/alliance-for-childhoods-joint-statement-of-early-childhood-health-and-education-professionals/ Helping families and teachers protect and promote imaginative play in our way-too-busy, consumer-driven, media-filled world. Sat, 04 Sep 2010 15:14:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Lee Drescher http://www.empoweredbyplay.org/2010/03/alliance-for-childhoods-joint-statement-of-early-childhood-health-and-education-professionals/comment-page-1/#comment-664 Lee Drescher Wed, 21 Apr 2010 22:31:08 +0000 http://www.empoweredbyplay.org/?p=643#comment-664 As a past pre school teacher, I have developed a literacy and arts program for children which uses the arts to encourage creative thinking and spontaneous, dramatic play. Because i taught in an era when children only learned to read when they were ready, and when nursery schools and kindergarten consisted mainly of play areas, I am distressed at seeing my grandchildren on Long island learn all of their letters and numbers by ages three and four. My three year old grandson tests high on the charts, and bites his fingernails to the quick. He's a wonderful little boy, but he's very anxious. I am also fighting with the entertainment industry, about ramming phonics and letters down kids throats at an early age. Let them just absorb learning for the sheer joy of it, and let them play out the back yard, or if you don't have one, in a special area of your tiny apartment. Thank goodness for recognizing the plight of our children before it is too late, In such a stressed out time we need less regulating so that kids can enjoy their childhood and learn to be social, caring, inventive and intelligent adults in the future. As a past pre school teacher, I have developed a literacy and arts program for children which uses the arts to encourage creative thinking and spontaneous, dramatic play. Because i taught in an era when children only learned to read when they were ready, and when nursery schools and kindergarten consisted mainly of play areas, I am distressed at seeing my grandchildren on Long island learn all of their letters and numbers by ages three and four. My three year old grandson tests high on the charts, and bites his fingernails to the quick. He’s a wonderful little boy, but he’s very anxious.

I am also fighting with the entertainment industry, about ramming phonics and letters down kids throats at an early age. Let them just absorb learning for the sheer joy of it, and let them play out the back yard, or if you don’t have one, in a special area of your tiny apartment. Thank goodness for recognizing the plight of our children before it is too late, In such a stressed out time we need less regulating so that kids can enjoy their childhood and learn to be social, caring, inventive and intelligent adults in the future.

]]> By: Geralyn http://www.empoweredbyplay.org/2010/03/alliance-for-childhoods-joint-statement-of-early-childhood-health-and-education-professionals/comment-page-1/#comment-538 Geralyn Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:02:13 +0000 http://www.empoweredbyplay.org/?p=643#comment-538 I just found out that starting tomorrow (3/10) at 10 AM ET, the draft of the K-12 standards will be available for public comment. The public comment period ends April 2nd, so check out the website at www.corestandards.org and make your concerns known. I hope that everyone will help spread the word so that teachers and parents will know about this opportunity to speak out! I just found out that starting tomorrow (3/10) at 10 AM ET, the draft of the K-12 standards will be available for public comment. The public comment period ends April 2nd, so check out the website at http://www.corestandards.org and make your concerns known. I hope that everyone will help spread the word so that teachers and parents will know about this opportunity to speak out!

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