Finally! The pendulum has swung about as far as
it can in terms of pushing academics and I see a movement back to the basics of
childhood. You’ve got to read this
article in the NY Times.
nytimes.com/2011/11/28/nyregion/with-building-blocks-
educators-going-back-to-basics
Imagine parents
with all the money in the world taking a class to learn how to play with blocks
with their children! (Gee, I could
set up a model kindergarten class for those parents and call it a childhood spa
where they could pay $1000 to come and play! Sounds like good therapy to me.)
I don’t know who
came up with the idea to remove blocks from kindergarten, but they should be
ashamed of themselves! Froebel
would roll over in his grave. The
more high tech and plastic our world becomes, the more children need natural
elements like wooden blocks. When
children play with blocks they develop motor skills, spatial awareness, math
concepts, problem solving, language, social skills, creativity, and so much
more.
Oh, the joy of
finding wooden blocks under the tree this year! Blocks don’t need batteries, won’t break, and can grow with
the child. Last year after the
gifts were unwrapped, K.J. went back to play with his old friends -the blocks!
