Imagine a kindergarten classroom from the late 1970s. Avocado-green file cabinets, children in vibrant bell bottoms lounging on beanbags while leafing through actual books (no screens in sight), traditional chalkboards, and corners filled with children engaged in various learning centers. PLAYING.
At those learning centers, the only thing requiring a plug was a tape recorder softly narrating “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.” It was a time of pure, uninterrupted, unrestricted, and mostly unsupervised play. That was my own kindergarten experience. We spent time in the play kitchen and art center, and hours during recess creating our own games instead of being directed on how to have fun. We splashed water at the water table, excavated treasures from the dress-up corner, built towering structures with oversized wooden blocks, and let our imaginations run wild to enhance our social skills and complement our learning.
Now, let’s fast-forward to a modern kindergarten classroom. Sure, it looks colorful and inviting, but it’s also crammed with technology. Smart Boards, desktops, iPads, and classroom libraries filled with chapter books (where did all the picture books go?), and rows of individual desks designed for sitting for six hours straight. (Can anyone expect a 5-year-old to sit still at a desk for more than 10 minutes? Yet here we are, asking them to write in journals for 20 minutes!) And let’s not forget that kindergarten was once a half-day affair, producing generations of intelligent, literate, and creative individuals.
I’m not alone in believing that kindergarten has taken a wrong turn. Educators across the nation are voicing concerns that today’s kindergarteners are expected to arrive reading at advanced levels and writing complete sentences. Education researcher Jamie Brooks highlights that “5-year-olds are engaged in more teacher-directed academic activities than in play-based learning that encourages exploration and peer interaction.”
Brooks, who has analyzed contemporary kindergarten classrooms, points out that students typically partake in 15 different academic tasks each day, with only a mere 15 minutes for recess. Many kindergarten teachers agree that this workload is excessive for young children, who feel the strain of academic expectations.
With local and state educational mandates in place, teachers are under immense pressure to assess various aspects of student performance, leading to rigorous math and literacy evaluations even in kindergarten.
Why is it Crucial to Revive Free Play?
Because play is essential for learning, and its positive effects are well-documented. Research indicates that a play-based curriculum and child-centered activities can enhance literacy skills in a playful context, demonstrating that children’s play is integral to their learning process.
Play doesn’t undermine education; it enhances it. While we want our children to be academically successful and develop a passion for learning, replacing recess and playtime with a high-stress academic environment is detrimental. We must strive for a more balanced approach to early education—before we end up with 5- to 7-year-olds grappling with anxiety and burnout from school.
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In summary, it’s time we reconsider the structure of kindergarten, bringing back the essential element of play, which is vital for our children’s growth and development, while also ensuring they thrive in their academic pursuits.