Play is the Way!
Kids learn best through PLAY! As parents, we strive to teach our children and help them to grow and develop. Often, we over complicate things – Kids Just Wanna Have Fun … and we should let them!
When a child is engaged in the activity and enjoying themselves, than they are learning and developing. This is when they are “flowing” or in the “zone.” This “flow” or “zone” is the deep mental state where we lose awareness of our surroundings due to being caught in the moment and engrossed in the specific activity. By being present in the moment and fully engaged, the child’s learning takes place at a rate of ten times (or greater) from when they are not engaged. We need to encourage this flow and place them in “play” where they are challenged and having fun. Without the fun, than the child will lose engagement and interest which in turn slows the learning and creativity.
Understanding the importance of the “zone” for kids, I made sure that the Mighty Kicks Curriculum is fun and engaging. We use unique Poster Story Boards to introduce certain games in order to keep things creative and engaging. Making sure the Curriculum is age-appropriate is also crucial since the child must be challenged (not too easy) and not discouraged (not too hard) in order to maintain interest and keep flowing and growing. Safety is obviously a major priority for kids since they flow with greater freedom when they feel safe and secure.
Jane K Frobose is a “Family and Consumer” Educator at Colorado State University who elaborates: “Through play, children learn about themselves, their environment, people and the world around them. As they play, children learn to solve problems and to get along with others. They enhance their creativity and develop leadership skills and healthy personalities. Play develops skills children need to learn to read and write. Play in early childhood is the best foundation for success in school. As a child learns to reach, grasp, crawl, run, climb and balance, physical skills are developed … Positive play experiences develop positive emotional well-being. Through play and imagination, a child can fulfill wishes and overcome fears of unpleasant experiences. Play helps the child master the environment. When children feel secure, safe, successful and capable, they acquire important components of positive emotional health. Sharing play experiences also can create strong bonds between parent and child.” (source: www.ext.colostate.edu)
Keep on PLAYING!!!
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