Every generation believes that they had it harder than their successors. How does that Monty Python sketch go again? “When I were a lad…†etcetera etcetera. Consequently, it would be easy to think that children today have a much easier life than their predecessors. Our current Secretary of State for Education certainly seems to think so: he believes our children don’t work hard enough or long enough, so we should extend the school day and shorten school holidays. Well, I’m not any kind of expert in educational matters, but there are two very experienced teachers in my family and I’m pretty sure they don’t think it’s as simple as that. Here at WoodenToyShop we think it’s just as important to let our children play.
Time out of school is just as important to children as time spent in the classroom. I remember being pretty tired at the end of a normal school day and many of these days were followed by sports such as football, cricket and athletics. After spending the day in the classroom, children need some fresh air and time to unwind before eating and resting. As grownups, we are acutely aware of the need to “chill out†and relax in preparation for the next working day and surely it is no different for children? It’s important that children have the time to take in what they have learned at school and also to talk about their day with parents and carers. Psychotherapists argue that this time spent with families at the end of the school day, at weekends and during school holidays is essential for a different kind of learning which allows children to flourish as people and develop emotional and social intelligence. And what about extra-curricular activities such as scouting and guiding? These are often extremely helpful in terms of personal and social development and also offer educational opportunities not always available in school.
Let the children play!
Christine Blower, the general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, pointed out in the Guardian earlier this month that many independent schools break earlier for summer and often have longer holidays at other times of the year, yet they do not appear to produce worse results than their state school counterparts. While we can’t get away from the fact that politics is often about grabbing headlines and appealing to voters, we should urge our Secretary of State to speak to teachers, child carers and academics in this country and around the world. We should never forget that while we are debating and arguing the merits of the latest ideas put forward by policy wonks and focus groups, our children are growing and learning every day. Surely us grownups can reach an informed consensus and start pulling together in one direction for the sake of our children? Let’s ensure that all children have access to high quality teaching in well-funded schools that create imaginative and encouraging learning environments. Rather than heap pressure on children by making their school days even longer and taking away some of their holidays, why not give them a break and allow them to flourish in their own time and become well rounded and well educated individuals?
Click here to read an earlier blog article about learning through play.
