Finally! The pendulum has swung about as far asit can in terms of pushing academics and I see a movement back to the basics ofchildhood. You’ve got to read thisarticle in the NY Times.
nytimes.com/2011/11/28/nyregion/with-building-blocks-
educators-going-back-to-basics
Imagine parentswith all the money in the world taking a class to learn how to play with blockswith their children! (Gee, I couldset up a model kindergarten class for those parents and call it a childhood spawhere they could pay $1000 to come and play! Sounds like good therapy to me.)
I don’t know whocame up with the idea to remove blocks from kindergarten, but they should beashamed of themselves! Froebelwould roll over in his grave. Themore high tech and plastic our world becomes, the more children need naturalelements like wooden blocks. Whenchildren play with blocks they develop motor skills, spatial awareness, mathconcepts, problem solving, language, social skills, creativity, and so muchmore.
Oh, the joy offinding wooden blocks under the tree this year! Blocks don’t need batteries, won’t break, and can grow withthe child. Last year after thegifts were unwrapped, K.J. went back to play with his old friends -the blocks!
