play-based kindergarten?

[Anonymous]

We're looking at a charter school that features this, as well as a more academically-inclined charter school. Anybody have thoughts on the benefits of play-based kindergarten?

[Anonymous]

I think play-based kindergarten is AWESOME and I'd go for it if you can. Kids will learn the academics but the life lessons they learn thru play will stick with them thru a lifetime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think play-based kindergarten is AWESOME and I'd go for it if you can. Kids will learn the academics but the life lessons they learn thru play will stick with them thru a lifetime.

TOTALLY agree. Play lays the foundation for academic learning and for social learning. It's been proven time and time and time again. There is no reason to not let preschoolers run free with their imagination. Check out http://www.naeyc.org/play

[Anonymous]

amazing life games . it is not a charter but it is the only place that truly gets the play based socialization right

[Anonymous]

more marketing and gimmicks...

[Anonymous]

How much scratch $$$$ for this play or glorified baby sitting?

[Anonymous]

My personal preference would have been play-based, but parents at my school who were upset that their kids weren't learning enough academics so the school changed the curriculum to make it more academic. I think it is a shame that there is so much emphasis on reading and writing in K - there are a lot of kids who just don't want to do it. But short of moving to Finland, it is pretty hard to avoid, especially in this region.

[Anonymous]

Which charter is this? Sounds great!

[Anonymous]

What I don't get about the play based argument is that the same parents who support this approach seem to have no issue with the highly academic oriented public schools once 1st grade starts (and most of them also tend to be highly into competitive sports which is a separate topic). Why is there such a dividing line between playing when little and doing academics when older? Why shouldn't children be learning about the world and academic thinking and learning about each other through play all through life?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What I don't get about the play based argument is that the same parents who support this approach seem to have no issue with the highly academic oriented public schools once 1st grade starts (and most of them also tend to be highly into competitive sports which is a separate topic). Why is there such a dividing line between playing when little and doing academics when older? Why shouldn't children be learning about the world and academic thinking and learning about each other through play all through life?

The argument is that young children's brains are developing differently. They are not only mini-adults in the way they learn, they are also not mini-older-children in the way they learn.

Not saying I totally disagree with you, but that's the foundation of the approach and there is some science to support it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I don't get about the play based argument is that the same parents who support this approach seem to have no issue with the highly academic oriented public schools once 1st grade starts (and most of them also tend to be highly into competitive sports which is a separate topic). Why is there such a dividing line between playing when little and doing academics when older? Why shouldn't children be learning about the world and academic thinking and learning about each other through play all through life?

The argument is that young children's brains are developing differently. They are not only not mini-adults in the way they learn, they are also not mini-older-children in the way they learn.

Not saying I totally disagree with you, but that's the foundation of the approach and there is some science to support it.

Oops.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the responses. Here's an article on the subject: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amanda-moreno-phd/post_3023_b_1285135.html

The charter schools we're looking at are in Baltimore (where we live.)

[Anonymous]

Young kids learn through play. Play based learning is best. They have plenty of years for rote academics in the future.

[Anonymous]

Academics should only start in the first or second grade. Kindergarten is still too early.

[Anonymous]

Play is super important for the young mind. The research backs up play. Creativity and social skills don't come from worksheets. I struggled with reading as a young child but by 6th grade I read in the 99th percentile. Some kids don't have the eye development and many more don't have the focus. Why do kids play pretend? The human brain is hard wired to learn that way.