There’s No Place Like HomeAugust 27, 2009 · Posted in Education, K-5 Kids, Parenting, Preschoolers, Pressure on Children · Permalink
With their trusted and loved caretakers by their side, home is the best place for children to explore, play and learn.
Let’s take art for example–glue, paint, stickers, play dough, markers, pastels–all things that can be used at home, so do them at home. Little art projects here and there are a wonderful way to enrich your child’s world by creating things together. When you do this at home with just your child alone, or with a little friend– the pace is theirs, the product is theirs and when they are done– the time to stop is theirs. No pressure, no “Jenna needs to sit in the circle.” Art can be part of any day. This approach keeps play in its proper place: a low key, organic part of their day. It eliminates the stress of traveling to and fro and avoids a calendar full of classes that have expectations of kids that may be more appropriate for older children.
You can extrapolate this advice to other activities:
If your child likes music-turn on the cd player–you can dance, sing, play little maracas or bells.
If your child likes dance-buy a tutu and turn on a Nutcracker CD.
If your child like to pretend- make a dress up box with old shoes, shirts, ties, necklaces and Halloween costumes from all years past.
If you child likes balls, kick them around the yard or the park–no need to sign such littles one up for team soccer at such an early age.
This helps to keep play, play. Not a performance, not adult directed and and not over scheduled. You may get grief from other parents, but as you will certainly tell your child, “If your friend told you to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge, would you?”
Preserve your child’s childhood!
I love this – there is something so special about the creativity explored and satisfaction felt when children play in their own home.
I took my son to an art class and he spent maybe one minute on a project and then ran around the room. I became embarrassed and concerned that he wasn’t paying attention.
Great. I wasted $200 and ended up feeling bad.
Truth is, not only was the class unnecessary, it was inappropriate, and led to stress rather than enjoyment. On our own, I could have more easily figured out what was best for my son at that time.
Thanks for the reminder we often have better resources at our fingertips than ones we search for. And also that simpler is usually better.
Pam
I am so happy to see this in print! As a preschool teacher I really want to encourage parents to realize how much they have to offer their kids. It doesn’t need to high tech -or “expert”–just some regular fun at home!
I feel that it is important to bond with your child and spend quality time playing and enjoying time w/ the preschooler, It will give them a much happier childhood to look back on, And my son has learned more at home from me than he could in any extracurricular activity and what preschooler still doesn’t want to spend most of their days w/ Mommy, These are still bonding moments together, Enjoy it while we can before they are in school full time. I beleve part of being a parent is teaching them all you know {age appropiate}. You just can’t enjoy those last moments together if they’re being shipped off all over town.