THE PLAYING UP OF EDUCATION Carol Kahar Vineland, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada
Play. Does play matter? Is it important to the welfare of the child? Should play have an important place in the school curriculum? The General Assembly of the United Nations answered these questions by declaring play a human right of the child. Along with the basic needs of nutrition, health, and shelter, the United Nations considers play vital to the development and potential of the child. Play is a legitimate right of childhood, a crucial aspect of physical, intellectual, and social development. Play should be an integral part of the child’s education (Article 31 of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations, November 20, 1989) https://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/crc.aspx “Play is the work of childhood.” Jean Piaget, Swiss child psychologist (1896–1980) Jean Piaget emphasized that for children play is not a relief from serious learning, “play is serious learning.” COVID-19, the Coronavirus, has radically changed our world for some time to come. It has necessitated a remodelling of society as we know it today. Parents in many countries find themselves in the position of homeschooling – monitoring their children’s online lessons, a component of homeschooling – while coping with the many challenges of working from home. There is a heightened need to liaise with the family unit during this stormy period of enforced self-isolation and social distancing. How best to cope with these major changes to the lifestyle of families? Child psychologists and other experts in the field recommend that leisure time be set aside each day. Children are very aware of their surroundings and experience worry, anxiety, and fear, as do adults in their world. Family downtime is essential and can take many forms: role-playing and board games, free play, nature walks, virtual tours of museums and other age-appropriate use of the Internet. There are many online activities that can make learning fun. Time for free play is also essential as it allows children time to explore on their own without the constraints of parental supervision. Parents, as well as their children, need some diversion from their ‘workday’. Today’s parents are urged to provide some quiet time but, most importantly, to have fun with their children in an ageappropriate context. Minimizing family stress is essential in these disquieting times. This remodelling of society will in all likelihood be permanent. The daily routine of the family has been pleasantly affected. Not only is the child’s day more inviting with the inclusion of leisure time but also that of their parents. All family members need a time out 15
