The Purpose and Power of Play
Posted by Faith BarbutoThis summer, I was fortunate enough to travel to Denmark through to the Virginia Birdsall Grant. I spent a week visiting 6 different “Forest Kindergartens.” Although the settings were vastly different, the concept was the same – children learn best through play. To us, it might seem like these children are dangerously playing in the woods all day – and to some degree that is true – but they are also developing gross and fine motor skills, learning to cooperate and problem solve and maybe most importantly developing confidence by not avoiding tasks they may not succeed at. Upon my return to America and my classroom at Unquowa, I set the goal to spend at least one hour a day outside with my students. Some of that time purely for enjoyment and another block for an academic subject taught in nature. So far this year we have spent time building, climbing and swinging – things that may look like just playing but are also helping build spatial skills, develop motor skills and learn how to navigate the complexities of social interactions. We have also been observing, writing and working together, laying the groundwork for future scientists. authors and engineers while deepening students’ respect for the natural world.
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