Play is an important part of early childhood education. Yet for nearly 18 months, the pandemic has made play difficult, if nearly impossible, for children. This loss is significant for as noted by a medical doctor and clinical researcher Stuart Brown in his book entitled, "Play" (2009):
"What enables us to innovate, problem-solve, be happy, smart, resilient human beings (is) our ability to play!"
With the Delta variant raging and our youngest citizens still not able to be vaccinated, early childhood classrooms must be structured and materials provided in ways that mitigate risk. For now, gone is the sharing of classroom materials and students socializing in creatively designed self-selection centers. Instead, students must work and play at least 3 feet apart and access materials that only their one set of precious hands can touch.
This classroom set of Build Bricks STEM Challenge will provide endless hours of play that requires problem-solving, creativity, and perseverance--just what we must nurture in our youngest citizens whose experiences as we continue to navigate the pandemic will help shape national and global policies 20 or so years from now. Would it not be beautiful and beneficial to provide them now with rich and exciting experiences that will stretch and strengthen their brains?
I fully expect that these sets will be used at least once per week during the 178 days of SY 2021/22 that remain.
About my class
Play is an important part of early childhood education. Yet for nearly 18 months, the pandemic has made play difficult, if nearly impossible, for children. This loss is significant for as noted by a medical doctor and clinical researcher Stuart Brown in his book entitled, "Play" (2009):
"What enables us to innovate, problem-solve, be happy, smart, resilient human beings (is) our ability to play!"
With the Delta variant raging and our youngest citizens still not able to be vaccinated, early childhood classrooms must be structured and materials provided in ways that mitigate risk. For now, gone is the sharing of classroom materials and students socializing in creatively designed self-selection centers. Instead, students must work and play at least 3 feet apart and access materials that only their one set of precious hands can touch.
This classroom set of Build Bricks STEM Challenge will provide endless hours of play that requires problem-solving, creativity, and perseverance--just what we must nurture in our youngest citizens whose experiences as we continue to navigate the pandemic will help shape national and global policies 20 or so years from now. Would it not be beautiful and beneficial to provide them now with rich and exciting experiences that will stretch and strengthen their brains?
I fully expect that these sets will be used at least once per week during the 178 days of SY 2021/22 that remain.
Read more