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Pre-school education
without texts
Preschool and playgroups were not originally invented to teach
anything specific. They were intended for parents’ benefit and
children’s fun. The social learning that occurs is a beneficial
extra. They should give children a chance to learn most through
self-motivated play.
At the preschool stage there is no distinction between playing
and learning. A child engages in a play activity because he enjoys
it. If he is enjoying himself, he will certainly be learning whether
or not the parent sees any educational value. But the early
preschool years are far too early in your child’s life for learning
to formally read and write.
Young children want to know so they ask, want to see what and
how, so they watch and listen. They want to do it too, so they copy.
But most of all they want to find out for themselves. As parents, we
need to encourage this exploratory behaviour if we are to build
innate skills and foster developmental progress.
Leave the text books, teaching reading and writing for later,
there are more important things to be learned first.
© Barbara King, January 10, 2002 |
