The phrase
"Only 3 in 10 children had at least 60 minutes of a full child-care day outdoors for recess, as is recommended by guidelines. "
concerns me not only because so many children are playing so little outside... BUT mostly because outdoor play is seen as recess...
For me outdoor and indoor play AND learning have equal value... one is not better than the other... both are equally vital as part of a balanced diet of play and learning... some days more out than in... some days more in than out... but everyday more than an hour, regardless of the weather...
I feel it is a little troubling that there is STILL this distinction between learning and play... that there is STILL this distinction between learning happening indoors and play happening outdoors...
The whole of this post can be read
On my new website Interaction Imagination
You bring up a perfect example of how segmented education has become at all ages, when children are learning about a variety of domains all of the time. I really appreciate you sharing how you make different priorities visible to children and the community throughout your week. Although there is a focus for each Monday, for example, the children's way of working is still the priority.
ReplyDeleteI read an article a few months ago that was about how to get more children to "play" outside - implying that if children are not running and engaging with gross motor activities, being outside does not count. We have segmented outdoor play to mean running, and indoor play to be quiet. Your images that mix all of things up are the perfect illustration to contrast those traditional ideas. Thanks Suzanne :)