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Even though Sigmund Freud, Jean Piaget, and Erik Erikson had different opinions and views on early childhood education they all collaborated well and held one thing in common : "that early childhood

curriculum and practice must be

adapted to the maturing needs,

abilities, and interests of the child. "

When teaching younger children it is our job to create a safe, and encouraging environment. When we do this, children learn and gain more knowledge because they feel safe and the needs of the students are meet. Teachers are educated through many different teaching programs and learn how to utilize ideas so many different ways. I believe we will reach and change more students if we focus on and collaborate maturing needs, abilities, and the interests of our students it doesn't matter how anyone teacher decides to teach, we can academically reach struggling students and have them reach the goals they need to be successful in life.

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*To children, time is

measured in units of joy*

I absolutely love that quote from the article. It is 100% true. Children are busy and need to continue to be busy, that's how they learn and grow. Teachers that teach early childhood education know to well what happens when we give a kindergarten too much time of nothing to do. We get a classroom full of tired, restless, emotional kids. It is important like this article stated to ensure every single moment of a kindergarteners  day is accounted for. However, we must maintain a healthy balance of their time. Throwing too many activities can cause more anxiety to students and the teacher. We all know there's never enough time in the day to complete everything that is requested of us. When we show this type of frustration our children feel it too, and they are to little and not mature enough to be able to handle those emotions yet.

I love to start each day with a sweet, loving song. Then while waiting on the announcements we talk about their week or really anything they want to talk about. In my class we recently started a few centers, we worked on writing the room with our letter "c" of the week. I was kind of nervous to just let them go, but they did amazing. I even noticed when students finished they were eager to help other friends out. As we should have stopped about 10 minutes sooner, I literally could not stop those kinder kids giving help on their own terms. And the sweet smiles they both got when they completed the task together. It was priceless and something I will always remember.

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"It is a happy talent to know how to play" - Ralph Waldo Emerson 

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Imagination by Richard Lewis/ Nature by Rachel Grob                                         

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Imagination by Richard Lewis/ Nature by Rachel Grob                                         

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When we allow children to play we give them the power to create their own understanding of things. Early Childhood children learn so must through play. They learn how to communicate with each other, and gain social skills. Play to children can also bring self-awareness and self-confidence, which is huge at this age to achieve. Watching children learn and grow through play is amazing to me. It helps me know that children are happy and feel safe in my classroom. It's their time to be themselves, to let go, scream if they feel the need to, skip, run, anything their hearts feel the need to do.

One day my students were playing at free centers, and this little girl in my class (who is momma to everyone) decided to go play with a few other friends. Most of the time this particular little girl run the show, tells everyone what they are going to do (it's sounds awful, but it really is done in a sweet, loving way), well this particular day another friend did not want to do what the little girl said and she was shocked (her face was like wait what) they went back and forth as I watched to make sure it wasn't an unhealthy situation for any of the children. To my surprised the little girl realized that day that sometimes friends don't want to do certain things. Once she figured something that friend liked to do it was like they never missed a beat. Sometimes during play children learn about personal space, about different moods children are in.

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Children always need hands on activities. There are reasons why we use our hands to play. As this article stated: "They are connected with our brains, and a primary way we interact with the world. As kids play with blocks, fashion mud pies, and

throw balls, they are constantly

fertilizing neural growth and

integrating complex areas that the

natural world offers."  It has been researched and proven that children need to have free, hands-on play to increase their brain development and reach their highest potential.

It's heartbreaking to hear people say "all they do is play in kindergarten" Teachers are just babysitters in that grade level. If we continue to push more academically onto our early childhood children, and push out play then our children can't develop fully at the social, emotional, and language level. We must continue to allow play for our children, so they can happily learn and be encouraged for school.

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Something that I took from this article....

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Current Trends and Research by Joan Almon

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Current Trends and Research by Joan Almon

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The article states that a study that was done in Germany with academic kindergartens, showed that play-based early education produced better long-term results in reading and math, social and

emotional adjustment. Confirmed evidence shows that children have better attention spans after playtime has occurred. (Olga Jarrett)

It is research proven to benefit kids that are allowed playtime in schools, so my question is why are we trying to decrease the amount of playtime early childhood children receive? We as teachers need to take the steps necessary to keep play inside the classroom for our students to learn at an age appropriate level, so they can achieve and reach milestones needed to grow.

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Building Blocks for Learning by Katrina Ferrara, Kathryn Hirsh-Pasek, and Roberta M. Golinkoff/ Active Learning by Larry Schweinhart/Open-Ended and Creative Play by  Francis Wardle

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Building Blocks for Learning by Katrina Ferrara, Kathryn Hirsh-Pasek, and Roberta M. Golinkoff/ Active Learning by Larry Schweinhart/Open-Ended and Creative Play by  Francis Wardle

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Building Blocks for Learning, Active Learning, Open-Ended and Creative Play

When children pay with blocks it opens them up to endless amount of opportunities. Problem-solving, math skills, fine-motor skills, and encourages them use creative thinking skills.

In the active learning article I learned that teachers who allowed more child-led activities better prepared children for life and these children experienced less emotional issues and fewer crimes. (The HighScope Educational Research Foundation) I think it is incredible the potential children have with their learning abilities. They can learn all different ways, and it was interesting to see the facts about how beneficial it is for early childhood children to take initiative on how they can learn. We underestimate how hard taking initiative really is at this age. They literally go from having moms and dads do everything for them, to a classroom setting initiating play and discussions with peers.

Open-Ended and Creative Play is where children shine. They have the ability to turn something boring into something fun and joyful. I'll never forget when my sister and I went on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic. The children there literally have nothing except what's on their backs and the things we bring them. They get one meal a day (rice and water) and that's it. One day while we were there I saw some kids playing with trash. It broke my heart to see and watch. Then, the translator approached me because he seen the tears rolling down my face, he said, "wait and watch what they create." So I did, those kids created a frisbee thing and played with it throughout the day. It was crazy at how life changing that moment was for me. They also created a game out of a string and some of the siding we had there. (We were building them a school)