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Prime Minister Touts Play
September 26, 2012
Clinging to the past is the problem. Embracing change is the answer.
-Gloria Steinem
-Gloria Steinem
"We also need to improve quality of pre-school education.... Times have changed. Family structures evolved. [There are] more nuclear families, fewer children, more dual-income parents today. Hence fewer opportunities to socialise with grandparents, siblings, or cousins.
"Early years are important for children’s development. Brain is most receptive to learning at that age, especially learning languages. [Children] gain confidence and curiosity about the world around them, pick up positive behaviour, social skills, and learning attitudes. Hence good pre-school education will prepare students to enter P1 and provide many long-term benefits thereafter...
"A caution to parents: Pre-school is to teach certain skills which are best learnt at that age, e.g. languages, social skills, basic motor skills. [We] must not bring P1 syllabus down to 5-6 year olds. Education experts and child development experts warn against 'over-teaching' pre-school children. No homework is not a bad thing; it is good for young children to play, and learn through play."
Exchange Resources on Play
Exchange has a wide variety of resources on play. Here are some examples...
- Big Body Play
- Play - A Beginnings Workshop Book
- Promoting the Value of Play - CD Book
- The Play's the Thing
- Learning Moments CD - Learning Through Play: Age 0 - 3 Years
- Learning Moments CD - Learning Through Play: Age 3 - 5 Years
- OOB: Block Play: It's Not Just for Boys Anymore
- OOB: But They're Only Playing: Interpreting Play to Parents
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Comments (1)
Displaying 1 CommentSingapore
I really hope that "play" is not being intepreted as just play-play. There should be a balance of academic and play. I agree with PM Lee that there should not be over-teaching in Ks. In my opinion, I feel that parents are the ones who should reflect, they are the ones who created the market for preparing their children for P1. It's their "kaisuism" (scared to lose) where they will queue overnight and volunteer or even donate thousands of dollars to get their children in well-known kindergartens or primary schools. In the same vein parents want PSLE to be scrapped. Again, it's parents who pressurizing their children to excel to go to famed schools. So what if there are bandings... they blame the ministry for this. But who is concerned about this, it's the parents. Why? Face factor? Parents need to realise, education is a process and not result. It's the process that gives their child the experience where they will bring them wherever they go. Let's look at the UK. To a certain degree, we copied the British system. They undid their system, but what happens to their education now? They are undoing what they undid and trying to go back to the basics. We need to realise that tests, exams, streaming is essential. It's how parents react to the results? Is 80% not good enough or it should 110%. Could parents say "well done, I am sure you can do better the next time."
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