March 31, 2005

Week of the Young Child Celebrated in April

The Week of the Young Child will be celebrated April 3-9. This annual event, sponsored by the North Dakota Association for the Education of Young Children (NDAEYC), celebrates children and recognizes families, early childhood educators and others who are working together to support the healthy development and early learning of every young child. NDAEYC has more than 350 early childhood professionals working together to improve professional practice and working conditions in early care and education, and to build public support for early learning.

This year’s focus is on the importance of play, according to Karin Bartoszuk, North Dakota State University Extension Service child and adolescent specialist.

“Play is their ‘work’ and way of learning about the world around them,” Bartoszuk says. “Through play, children try new skills, explore their imagination and creativity, and learn about relationships with other people. It can be an especially powerful bonding time. Playtime with a child often brings out the best in adults, too. The beauty of this learning and growing time is that the motivation for a young child to do it is already there - it’s fun.”

Sometimes parents think children spend too much time playing at their child-care program and question if their child will be prepared for kindergarten.

“Research on children’s learning and development shows the many benefits of play for children’s intellectual, social, emotional, physical and language development,” Bartoszuk says. “Children at play are actively involved in creating themes, exploring and establishing environments, solving problems and developing shared understandings.”

As kids play with each other, they learn to see another’s point of view and begin to become more empathetic and caring. They come to understand customs and rules in their own culture and to appreciate those of others. They learn to use language in new ways to describe their play and to interact with others. Through play, children develop their muscles and coordination.

Tips for productive playtime:

1. Allow ample time. Children’s play takes time - lots of it.
2. Create a special space. Whenever possible, give children a space to call their own, where their projects can remain undisturbed.
3. Keep it active. Children benefit most from play when they become intently involved in what they are doing, whether they are drawing, constructing a parking garage for toy cars or creating their own music.
4. Plan for variety. Select many different types of toys, keeping safety in mind.
5. Go outdoors. Take a small table outside, hook up the hose or make angels in the snow. Nearly everything that can be done indoors can be done outside.

Play is fun, but also is serious business that prepares children for a successful future, Bartoszuk says. “Research shows that children who attend high-quality early care and education programs are more likely to develop language, pre-mathematics and social and emotional skills they need to succeed in school.”

Ask area child-care program representatives how you can join in the celebration.

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Source: Karin Bartoszuk, (701) 231-8113, karin.bartoszuk@ndsu.edu
Editor: Rich Mattern, (701) 231-6136, richard.mattern@ndsu.edu

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