Extensive research has been conducted on the benefits of play-based learning. If you are in the field of Early Childhood Education, then I am preaching to the choir. I recently responded to a post by Let the Children Play, which raised the question "they play, but do they write?" The author's resounding answer is "Yes!" A number of fantastic pictorial examples is provided of how students can practice writing through play.
Yet this post points to a larger issue for me. Although we as ECE educators understand the valuable learning that occurs during play experiences, most parents do not grasp it. Parents nowadays want to see tangible, teacher-directed curriculum. How can we change the mindset parents have towards play? What have you done to help families endorse play as a viable source for learning?
