Possibilities of Play | The Power of Play: Learning What Comes Naturally

Interesting book.... | The Power of Play: Learning What Comes Naturally | David Elkind

books:


	• The Power of Play: Learning What Comes Naturally David Elkind Da Capo Press, 2007 - 256 pages average customer review:based on 6 reviews view larger image
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Good start..textbook finish

I couldn't agree more with Elkind that play is important. As a parent myself I hear others concerned that their children aren't getting enough "education," even at tiny toddler ages. Many parents get stressed and competative over academic issues before their children are even school age. And, if you are a parent who does not enroll your children in this and that, you are looked at as neglectful...or unconcerned about your children's futures. A current concern I have is the push for all day kindergarten (not mentioned in this book) but I fear it will overtake our half day programs here in MN in just a few years. While these programs may benefit some children, they are certainly not beneficial to all, and I'd even argue they are not beneficial to the majority of children.

The problem I had with Elkind's book is not the message, but rather the delivery of the message. While the first 4 chapters were enjoyble, the rest of the book reminded me of a college textbook. I didn't really enjoy reading it and most of it was repetative as I went to college for el. ed. and took several ed. psych. courses. Now, if you have not heard all these things before, you may be more interested in this book. Personally, as a parent, I found John Rosemond's A Family of Value (read chapters on toys) to be a much more interesting in presentation. Be prepared, however, with Rosemond because he is much more strongly opposed to screen time than Elkind appears to be. Regardless, both books relay a valuable message.

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Possibilities of Play

Elkind is my kind of guy. In this book he talks about balance, balance, balance. His book addresses play in children infancy thru the elementary years, for the most part. He talks about what play does exactly for children's intellect, social skills and imagination. I would suggest this book to parents of kids ages 0-7. Educators and the late elemantary set will get something from this book, but not as much as folks parenting and working with younger children.

What I have enjoyed so much about this book is that he is not extreme in his ideas. He endorses tv and video games mildly, and then leads parents into selecting the right kind of show or game. He talks about the pros and cons of these entertainment modes.

He talks about the balance of planned sports/activities, and free, individually motivated play. He offers some guidelines in this area.

He addresses his ideas developmentally, and explains each developmental stage. He will talk about kids in the "concrete operational stage" which usually happens around the age of 6, but sometimes sooner, sometimes later.

I think the American Public cannot read enough about the importance of play for children of all ages.In an age where recess is being eliminated from schools in order to raise test scores, we need work like Elkind's to remind us of the importance of not overscheduling our children.

This read, where I enjoyed it, isn't my favorite book. But I like the info within, I like how it is organized, and believe whole-heartedly in the point that David Elkind is making. It is an intelligent book, and doesn't "dummy-down" to the parent. I learned quite a bit, and as a mother and and educator appreciated that most of all.

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Interesting book....

I enjoyed this book very much and found it refreshing compared to a lot of the alternatives on the shelves...but, if you are an outdoorsy, no TV, stay at home and look after your child, play, kind of person, I didn't gain a lot from it!

Today?s parents often worry that their children will be at a disadvantage if they are not engaged in constant learning, but child development expert David Elkind reassures us that imaginative play goes far to prepare children for academic and social success. Through expert analysis of the research and powerful examples, Elkind shows how creative, spontaneous play fosters healthy mental and social development and sets the stage for academic learning in the first place. An important contribution to the literature about how children learn, The Power of Play restores play?s respected place in children?s lives and encourages parents to trust their instincts to stay away from many of the dubious educational products on the market.

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