FSCA NEWS

YOU PLAYED A LOT AS A KID? THAT’S PROBABLY WHY YOU ARE SO SUCCESSFUL
The education of young children has gained attention in recent years as new research on brain development suggests brain structure is powerfully shaped by early experiences. According to a policy brief from the Action Alliance for Children, there has been a consensus among early childhood professionals that play should be a vital part of any high-quality early education program, because play benefits cognitive, social, emotional, physical and moral development. While many associate play with a break from curriculum, the fact is that play-centered preschool curriculum is not a laissez-faire approach but actually a main conduit to reinforcing instruction. High-quality preschool programs do not only benefit children and families, as they potentially save taxpayers between $2.69 and $7.14 for every dollar invested by reducing special education, law enforcement and other costs. It is clear that when children play they have the opportunity to apply mental representation of the world to new situations, integrate all types of learning, and can become engaged in things that interested them, which fosters a natural motivation to learn.  So go outside and play already.
http://www.4children.org/pdf/play07.pdf