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81 sats \ 5 replies \ @OT 7 Oct \ on: Play it forward: Lasting effects of pretend play in early childhood Education
My wife is from China and is constantly telling me stories of her friends kids, nieces and nephews. It sounds like torcher. Boarding schools, hardly ever see their parents, no time to play.
I'm so glad we left China and will raise them in a semi rural town in Western Australia. I want them to get dirty, play outside and go traveling when we can.
Mine are both under 5 and we have some plans to home school. I read an interesting book called "Free to Learn" which goes into a lot of the benefits of free play. Still, like your wife I would like my oldest to get into reading and writing. He's still a bit young and isn't really listening to us yet. I'm still thinking about whether a digital device might be a good way to get him into it, but there might be some negative effects too.
Our son only recently showed some interest in trying to recognize some letters and numbers. As it is coming from him, it's much easier to get him to focus on it. When my wife tried in the past, he barely could sit down for 1 minute before getting antsy. I always tell her that kids will show they are ready when they are ready. There is not much in trying to get them to do it earlier.
As for the tablets, I introduced him to Duolingo for Kids. He enjoyed learning some English as it was gamified. He never gets to play other games on tablet though.
But haven't done it for a long time, other free play priorities these days :)
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I'll check it out. He is interested in books so I think it will come in good time.
There's one thing I'd like to get him interested in which is perfect pitch. Apparently you need to learn it before 5-6 or you never will. Its not an important life skill, but is an amazing skill to have for musicians. Just thinking about whether it should be learn through the instrument or digitally with a tablet.
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Never heard of the perfect pitch thing. That's quite interesting. I always assumed it was something innate... something you have or something you haven't. I'll look into it. Was hesitating to get him to start a music instrument, maybe better to do it now than later then :)
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He's been expressing his desire for piano, so that will be the obvious choice. Also, in apartments here, people are very sensitive to noise, so it'll be easier to set him up with an electronic piano so he can practice with headphones.
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