As a former teacher turned homeschooling mom for the past 13 years, I firmly believe in the importance of fun and the value of my kids experiencing life and developing essential life skills.
I want to address a concerning trend I see among parents who say, "I will not play with my kids." It's crucial to understand why play is so important and how teaching through play can benefit our children.
Source from; “Institute of Child Psychology” on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/instituteofchildpsych?igsh=MW5mZnFjbjRicmJocA==
“Unfortunately, the sad reality is that over the last 50 to 60 years, we’ve gradually taken away that freedom to play. There has been a steady decline in children's opportunities for unstructured play.
Back in the 1950s, when I was a child, we had plenty of chances to play. School was important, but it wasn't the overwhelming focus it is today. Many may not recall that the school year back then was about five weeks shorter than it is now. The school day lasted six hours, but in elementary school, at least two of those hours were spent outside playing. We enjoyed half-hour recesses in the morning and afternoon, along with a full hour for lunch.
During those breaks, we could roam freely, and we were never confined to the classroom for more than an hour at a time—typically only four hours a day. Homework for elementary students was virtually nonexistent, and while high schoolers had some assignments, it was significantly less than what students face today.
Outside of school, we had chores and some of us held part-time jobs, but for the most part, we were free to play for hours after school and throughout the weekends.
Let’s not forget the vital role that play has in childhood development. It's time to reclaim that joy and freedom for our kids!”
If you have any questions about homeschooling in Virginia, feel free to comment below.
www.thefunschoolers.comThe importance of play
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