WHY RUSH? LETS PLAY!!!!!

[nosnikrap]

Have read a few threads now highlighting concerns of parents who think their child should be reading and writing as early as 3-4. I think there should be a thread giving parents ideas of ways to promote play as the best way for children to learn!

So parents, teachers, pre-school assistants, why don't we share ideas, why is play so important, why is it under rated? DISCUSS!!! ha ha

To begin I would like to say that allowing free use of pens and paper, with no pressure, will help children to be enthusiastic about using writing materials, good motivation will ensure that they can develop good fine motor skills which will help with writing later on.

Have just found this thread, but need to go to bed as DS2 has just had a feed. Will check in tomorrow and try to add something then.

Have pasted this from the other thread:

My DS loves numbers so we talk about numbers we see in everyday life and count things. He has a natural aptitude (didn't get it from me!). I think you should follow your child's natural interests. You don't have to 'teach' them, just join them as they explore the world. This can all be done through play for example making up silly rhyming sentences, playing eye spy with colours/sounds/numbers. They have many years in formal education ahead of them.

I do think that in this country there is sometimes a panic that children need to start 'learning' as soon as possible. When in reality they are learning things everyday.

IMHO children reach a point when they are ready to learn things like reading. My Ds has learnt all his sounds effortlessly, but is unable to put them together to read words or remember sight words. I would rather wait until he is ready, then risk him developing a feeling of failure so young. So I am currently politey ignoring the sheets of words he gets sent home to learn. We look at them in books we share instead.

ooh, good idea. Will try & remember some gleaned wisdom form my parents (reception teacher & child psychology lecturer) who are both avid play-promoters & post tomorrow.

Well, I could write an essay (but won't!) but I am a great fan of learning through play.

For pre-writing, what comes first is mark-making (Penny Tassoni is an expert in this field) Mark-making can be anything from chalking, dabbing on paint, 'writing' with your finger in shaving foam etc etc) An inventive parent or pre-school can think of any number of things to do to promote this.

Additionally, flexible use of the arms and shoulders is vital to a relaxed and conmfortable use of a pen/pencil, therefore HUGE movements are essential, twirling scarves to music, large scale painting, painting with water outside in the garden....

All of this is fun and builds the child's confidence as there is no pressure to produce a prefect end product.

I look forward to hearing others' thoughts.

Great to take your children outdoors if worried about mess etc! In summer I have an easel outdoors and a BIG blakcboard. Also a big bucket of water for "painting" the paving slabs and walls with giant paintbrushes, water dries and then they can do it again.

Also rubbings outdoors is fun with all the textures around.

No pressure, just fun!

To encourage enthusiasm for the written word, involve your children in reading and writing for a variety of purposes, shopping lists, recipes, train stations, place names, tv times etc. So they know WHY it is good to read and write.

Accompany story books with factual books containing stuff your child is interested in. get them excited in the library. My son loved road sweepers and diggers, we looked for books with nice pictures,he was only 3 and he got really into it!

Make a point of trying to spot things that you have seen in a book. Make 'real' links to the information written there.

It is great to see children WANTING to read for their benefit rather than because they have to.

All children should be given the opportunity to learn at their own individual pace, and the adult needs to follow the child and observe his or her needs .. not impose activities that you think the child 'should' be doing.