Reply to why do we want our children to be challenged?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]If you know anything about child development, it is when a child is challenged that real learning occurs.

Vygotsky calls it the Zone of Proximal Development - that space between what a child can do independently and what a child can do with assistance.  This is the area where challenge should occur.

Piaget has pointed out that children go through stages of development and in essence, learning occurs during periods of disequilibrium.

So, for children to learn, they need challenges.  However, this does not mean that EVERYTHING must be a challenge.  [/quote]

Yes, I have 2 degrees in early ed. Totally agree about ZPDs. I guess my concern is more that we are challenging too much and/or that that seems to be the main focus for many people. Does that make sense? [/quote]

You are probably right.  I am a retired teacher (and posted before you).  I remember the days when teaching and learning wasn’t only challenging, but it was actually fun..... cooking with kids, encouraging block play (even in 1st and 2nd grade), having a sand table, using puppets...... I could go on and on.  I think my kids were learning AND were challenge - but it was fun (for them AND me).  We didn’t feel the need to move through the curriculum at such a rapid pace... and, ironically, I think my kids learned more than kids today.  [/quote]

(OP) YES so much this. Children learn best through play and we know it. I would argue even older kids learn best through play. And yet we just seem to care--maybe especially in this area--about rigor. And I am not at all anti-rigor! [/quote]

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