As the world looks back 50 years, we are hearing many quotes from John F. Kennedy; powerful words, they are inspiring still today. One of these, seems especially relevant to young children as they learn and play. JFK said “We choose to do…things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.”
In the first few years, babies and toddlers have to tackle some of the biggest challenges: learning to walk and to communicate with language. While the brain has been learning even before babies are born, these are complex skills. Yet, children try over and over, delighting in each little success. Do they feel discouraged? They might very well but, they do not let failure stop them and they keep trying until they get it. As well as figuring out how the world works, they have to figure out how feelings and emotions work as they interact with others. These are not easy things, instead they are hard.
Isn’t it fortunate that the best way to learn all these hard things is thru play? Maybe that’s why we find things so hard to learn as adults; we work at it rather than play. We’ve all seen kids trying to master a new skill and marveled at how they determined they are. When children play in groups, they explore and learn social skills. Kids spend more time negotiating how and what they will play than they do actually playing.
One of the best ways to support children’s learning, fun, and confidence when it comes to kindergarten readiness and other new situations, is to let them play. Time to play is not necessarily time with toys and games. Kids can play as they help us in the yard. Helping wash dishes can be play as kids stir the water to make bubbles, or see what items will float and what will sink. Finding time for play activities can be hard; finding things to play with is much easier as kids will play with anything! How will your child play today?