tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post9203535484828044963..comments2024-03-15T23:26:26.319-07:00Comments on Teacher Tom: Don't Be Afraid. Let Your Children Play.Teacher Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606781724784785338noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-76794635532917248492011-11-04T20:33:57.996-07:002011-11-04T20:33:57.996-07:00As long as my baby crushes the other babies while ...As long as my baby crushes the other babies while playing, they can play as much as they like. LOL! Great imagery and fantastic post, thanks.Krys - Baby Massagehttp://www.babyharmony.com.aunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-84802577477984292632011-10-31T17:05:19.781-07:002011-10-31T17:05:19.781-07:00@Anonymous . . . I'm glad you noticed this lit...@Anonymous . . . I'm glad you noticed this literary device. Frustrating, isn't it? =)Teacher Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14606781724784785338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-6107078881184174452011-10-31T16:15:59.486-07:002011-10-31T16:15:59.486-07:00The problem is, Tom, is that policies like RTTT ar...The problem is, Tom, is that policies like RTTT aren't intended for your primarily educated, upper-middle class parents. They're intended for families like the ones at the public Pre-K where I teach, where the families don't frequently speak to their children, much less teach them the prior knowledge essential to school. I love the power of play and am as big an advocate as anyone for child-centered discovery, and for letting children's joy and interests guide interactions. I love Reggio Emilia so much I have a Loris Malaguzzi quote tattooed on my wrist. But you can't deny the significant academic gap that these children are coming to kindergarten with. Programs like RTTT aren't entirely off in their aim to give high-intensity interventions to students and schools that need the most support. They don't have the resources that most families do. I agree research is misinterpreted by many helicopter parents looking to give their baby an advantage. But the original purpose and intent of that research isn't that far off- to investigate and uncover the gaps in education that low income children are experiencing, and find out what to do about it. We can sing the praises of experiential education til the cows come home, but that still won't teach my babies their ABC's.Sarahnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-86697283108678459732011-10-31T12:29:14.204-07:002011-10-31T12:29:14.204-07:00this is so great. great blog and great post. tha...this is so great. great blog and great post. thanks.The Legershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00737582461511061910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-17895347935840207452011-10-30T15:33:04.134-07:002011-10-30T15:33:04.134-07:00One of the wonderful things to remember is that we...One of the wonderful things to remember is that we as humans have the ability to play and benefit from play long into our elder years, so it's never to late to bring play into the lives of children and gain the developmental benefits from it. Children who didn't/don't have the opportunity to attend a play based preschool can benefit from play at home as long as parents are committed to not over scheduling after school time with extracurriculars.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18074723385090544014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-42609476251418650092011-10-30T08:28:36.919-07:002011-10-30T08:28:36.919-07:00Can't help but notice you used the fear of bra...Can't help but notice you used the fear of brain damage over and over again in this post. Hmmm...whom to trust, whom to trust.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-39159333331289950562011-10-29T18:49:23.702-07:002011-10-29T18:49:23.702-07:00If that's what's driving the testing cultu...If that's what's driving the testing culture, why don't the companies making PLAYthings do the same thing, and at least win some of us back?Eliza P.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07291195031630421676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-33284072129895667402011-10-29T14:44:15.700-07:002011-10-29T14:44:15.700-07:00(sighs heavily)
It's all about the money, isn...(sighs heavily)<br /><br />It's all about the money, isn't it? It's not about the children at all, and that's what the advertising hides so well.<br /><br />Keep the flag flying, Tom. Children need people like you advocating for their right to play.Aunt Anniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08799746597313773030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-51099207018934389772011-10-29T14:39:41.940-07:002011-10-29T14:39:41.940-07:00Hi, Teacher Tom! I found my way here via Janet Lan...Hi, Teacher Tom! I found my way here via Janet Lansbury. This is the first post of yours I've read and in short I LOVE IT. I'm so happy to have found someone who is a true proponent for early childhood development and education. Like you, I pay attention to validated research, not hype or fear. Maybe it's because I'm a full-time mother of a toddler or because I'm a former biological researcher myself: I can smell bad research and it's spurious conclusions right away. Good to know there's someone out there spreading real information. <br />And we do use play, not flashcards!Sylvia@MaMammaliahttp://mamammalia.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-35761019110599233782011-10-29T14:34:31.172-07:002011-10-29T14:34:31.172-07:00Excellent post Tom.
Laura, I believe we can we, b...Excellent post Tom.<br /><br />Laura, I believe we can we, but we need to unite as a profession and advocate for play. <br /><br />Schoolification of ECE is a result of divide and conquer with the discourses parents are tuning into - namely fear as tom points out - but one of many strategies of those you seek to homogenise education for economic reasons. <br /><br />Educate your community!!akohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15616184093925619910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-41176064859161206782011-10-29T13:17:17.652-07:002011-10-29T13:17:17.652-07:00Love this post! BUT for me who doesn't buy in...Love this post! BUT for me who doesn't buy into the flash cards, etc. I sit and live in fear because all the schools both preschool and public schools in my area are going to cause my child to have brain damage! :( Can't win, can you?Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12146270736158297146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-81357607108659939712011-10-29T12:55:48.699-07:002011-10-29T12:55:48.699-07:00Thank you for this follow-up. As a new parent I ha...Thank you for this follow-up. As a new parent I had a strong reaction to some of the comments on the other post, though as a scientist I can relate to the visceral frustration that comes from seeing people fall for these types of deliberate misinformation campaign.<br /><br />Parents aren't dumb and we sincerely want what's best, but we are bombarded from all sides with conflicting information from day one (even before!) Please, early childhood experts, keep helping us to learn and try to be patient with us.<br /><br />Also, another, related reason to support the Occupy movement: the more the middle class shrinks, the more fear, and the more parents will focus on raising college applicants rather than raising people.Allisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11073969531522296138noreply@blogger.com