We all strive to do what’s best for our children. Question is, what does ‘best” mean? Does one size fit all? Should we consider each child and choose options that best fit what we know about that individual and how she learns? Or go with the flow?
Once we decide what’s best, how do we evaluate the “rightness” of our decision over time? After all, nurturing children isn’t a “set it and forget it “ proposition. It’s one that requires vigilance and willingness to re-evaluate. What we thought the best choice could turn out not to be or to be for less time than we thought.
Beyond that is a plethora of information and opinions. Consider currently prevailing pressure for more academic learning at ever earlier ages. What’s to be gained? What’s being lost? What are the consequences, both short-term and long? These are issues we need to confront as we weigh what’s best for our children.
Someone who has, both as parent and professional, is Angela Hansom. As a pediatric occupational therapist she focuses on activities of daily living. For a child that includes play. But what happens when children as early as preschool find themselves trading play for a more structured, academic approach to learning?