tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23114166081843764372024-02-19T22:07:00.918-08:00Controversial Play and Topics in Early Childhood EducationMelinda Waldenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00255337404243063234noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2311416608184376437.post-78738159577241519702018-04-27T18:06:00.003-07:002018-04-30T14:18:23.366-07:00Comfort Zones (Part 1): The Uncomfortable Self<br />
<span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">Did
you know that it’s okay to feel uncomfortable? Just like other feelings, it is
a warning that you need to pay attention. ‘Uncomfortable’ tells you that you may
need to stop what is happening to you or around you, because you are not ready
to do something or there is something wrong. </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
<span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">However,
uncomfortable is not always a bad thing. When you challenge it, it can turn
into opportunities to have other wonderful feelings, such as, ‘Excitement,’ ‘Exhilaration,’
Pride,’ and ‘Accomplished.’ As well, ‘uncomfortable’ is an opportunity to learn
about different opinions and beliefs that may challenge your own or make you
rethink or stand stronger about what you thought or believed in the first
place. It is also the result of succeeding at something that you were often too
scared to try. It is the feeling you get when you attempt something that hurts or
makes you feel uneasy over and over again because you know the reward will
override that feeling in the long run: It gives you grit, determination,
persistence, and builds resiliency! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <span style="color: #9e3611;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">For
example, can you remember when you started to learn the different opinions and beliefs
about hunting? Did you learn why some people hunt (as a means to eat or for
sport or both) or why some people choose to be vegetarians or vegans and do not
support hunting at all? You may have been raised to think about it in a
particular way, but eventually found out that there was more than one way of
thinking about this subject. As a result, perhaps this helped you to respect
others’ opinions because you understood their side or maybe you stood stronger in
your own opinions because you didn’t.<span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">Another
example is when you got on a bicycle for the first time. Even though you felt
scared that you would fall, you got on that bike because you wanted to learn to
ride it. And you did fall, over and over again, yet you were so determined you
kept getting back on until you could ride that bike. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">Here’s
the thing: ‘uncomfortable’ is different for everyone, which can be a challenge
when you are working with other people, especially children, who have comfort
zones of their own. And when our comfort zones do not match those of children, it
is the adults who get to choose what will happen. This is a problem when
children want and need to play out topics or skills that make us uncomfortable,
such as playing a game where they are pretending to kill or they are using words
like ‘killing’ or ‘murder’ in their play. Or when they start to climb a tree
and they go higher than you thought they would. My question is, what do you do
when you feel uncomfortable with what the children are playing or discussing? Do
you stop it or do you let it keep going in spite of your discomfort? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">If
you tend to stop such play, or you second guess why you let such play occur, I
hope I can ease your discomfort with some helpful tips, ideas and thoughts that
make me feel better about what children are playing in spite of my feelings,
opinions and/or beliefs: </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">All interest topics and play come from the children</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">. Before I initiated a Gun Play project and a Wrestling
project with children, I observed the children engaging in this type of play. I
decided I needed to help them explore the topic and skills associated with the
play. This is my reason why I let them play or learn about the topic: Through
their play, they are showing me they already know about the topic or are
practicing the skill. So now I want to be a part of their learning so they can
gain a broader view of the topic and be that ‘someone’ who can teach them how
to practice the skills safely. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I observe the children playing the uncomfortable topic</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">. I document what they say and what they are doing. I
try to figure out why they are playing the topic, what they know about the
topic and what they don’t know. If they are playing with a controversial toy or
object that represents something uncomfortable (i.e. Nun chucks, guns), I ask
myself, how are they using it? Do they know what the object is, what it does,
what it is used for? If it is a controversial topic, such as war or death, do
they grasp the concept? How are they playing or talking about the topic? Do
they already have an opinion about the topic? Do they know other ideas or
opinions about the topic or belief? If it is a physical skill, I try to figure
out what skill they are trying to master and whether I need to help them learn
it safely or if they will be able to learn it on their own. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">After I observe, I try to understand what it is about
the topic or play that makes me feel uncomfortable?</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Is it that I’m scared that the children will end up
believing that guns are toys or that they do not know the real life
consequences of guns? That they may not know reality from fantasy? Is it because
I believe in peace and they are playing about war? Is it that children may get
hurt practicing a skill? Is it that I don’t think they are able to see hazards
that may cause them harm?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #9e3611;">
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Instead of saying no, I ask myself, how can we? </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">What can I do to make me feel better about this topic
or play without stopping it? Do I need to put safety or respect guidelines in
place? Do I need to bring in someone like a police officer to come talk about
gun safety? Do I need to research the different sides to a belief or opinion?
Do I need to put out mats so that they will have a soft place to land? Or do I
need to show them how to assess their environment for hazards?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I reflect on and write down all the benefits and
learning opportunities that could happen through exploring the interest.</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> The benefits always outweigh the discomfort. You just
have to look for them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I am present, observing, listening and learning from
what children are doing</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">. Be a resource
to help them find ways to research or understand the topic as well as the
opinions of others. Answer questions honestly but in a way that is appropriate
for their age or maturity. Provide ways to enhance the skills they are
practicing or to be the guide they need to learn the skill safely. By being
involved in the play, you feel like you have a little more control about how
they will learn, which gives you a sense of comfort. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></span><br />
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I try to remember what I believe about children (Image
of child)</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">. I believe children are
capable, competent, smart, and resilient, and that it is their Right to express
themselves any way they choose and seek information of all kinds. I believe in
trusting children to guide their own learning.<br />
</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">This
is how I make myself more comfortable with the play and topics that arise. And
what I have found is that most of the time, the assumptions I had about what children
were playing was not what they were playing at all, that sometimes they were
still trying to understand a concept and were not ready to put feelings behind
the subject. For example, the more I observed children taking physical risks
the more I saw how skilled and capable they were at it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In one situation, as I watched a group of
children play a game where they were “shooting and killing zombies”, I noticed
that the play was more about protecting and saving each other and facing their
fears rather than wanting to be aggressive. I also remember the first time I allowed
children to climb a tree at the park. I was nervous as I watched but the more I
observed, I saw how competent they were at swinging, hanging, and figuring out
how to navigate the tree. And I noticed the children who were still learning
the basic climbing skills stayed on the lower branches because they only went
as high as they felt comfortable. This showed me that children were capable of
understanding how to listen to that uncomfortable feeling they had inside, the
feeling that said ‘this is high enough’. But, as they practiced that feeling
slowly disappeared, and they were able to climb higher and more skillfully and became
confident in their climbing abilities. But this only happened because I said
yes in spite of my discomfort. <br />
</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">Instead of
making judgments about children’s play, take time to ask yourself:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></span></div>
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<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="square"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="square"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span>
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="color: #9e3611; line-height: normal; margin: auto auto 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Do you observe them at play?</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span>
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="color: #9e3611; line-height: normal; margin: auto auto 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Do you talk to them about what they like and
why?</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span>
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="color: #9e3611; line-height: normal; margin: auto auto 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Do you take their actions and opinions
seriously? </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span>
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="color: #9e3611; line-height: normal; margin: auto auto 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Do you ban toys for them without paying much
attention to how they actually play with them? And what they are trying
to learn about them?</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span>
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="color: #9e3611; line-height: normal; margin: auto auto 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Do you stop play that could increase their
physical abilities and development?</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span>
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="color: #9e3611; line-height: normal; margin: auto auto 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Do you give children the chance to prove they
can be competent?</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span>
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="color: #9e3611; line-height: normal; margin: auto auto 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Do you trust children?</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span>
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="color: #9e3611; line-height: normal; margin: auto auto 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Do you support the child</span></span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "rockwell" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">’</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">s right to play?</span></b></span></li>
</ul>
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</span></ul>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">When
you observe children and ask yourself these questions, you might just find that
the assumptions you had about children’s play were not what you thought in the
first place or that the children were capable of the physical risk they were
attempting. But what you are really doing by observing and supporting their
play is fostering overall health and lifelong development.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: #9e3611; font-size: 12pt;">Stay Tuned for: Comfort Zones (Part 2): The Uncomfortable
Parent/Guardian<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span><br />
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</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><br />Melinda Waldenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00255337404243063234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2311416608184376437.post-48081994595791881042018-03-28T18:42:00.004-07:002018-03-30T07:10:56.844-07:00Let the Children Play (Part 2): It’s a Need<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">As a parent
or caregiver of young children, you understand how important it is for children
to learn through play. But why do they <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">need</b>
to play out topics that seem unsuitable for their age or controversial to our
beliefs, such as the concepts of death, pollution, or sexuality? Aren’t they
too young to learn about these topics? <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">The one
thing all people have in common is that we have a motivation to learn. In fact,
we are born with it. This is because we <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">need</b>
to know how to learn about the world in order to survive. And children learn
through their play which makes it a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">need
</b>(i.e. a necessity),<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>no matter
what the content or focus of their play. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Many of you
have seen children playing in a way that does not seem age appropriate, and you
may think that you need to stop them from learning more about that subject or understanding
that the topic even exists (e.g. reality vs. fantasy). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps you feel they will become upset as
they learn more about the topic, or will have nightmares, or will act out in
ways that are inappropriate (i.e. if we don’t talk about it, it won’t happen). However,
if a child is playing about a sensitive topic, I’m sorry to tell you but this shows
that they already know something about it! And their <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">need</b> to learn will override any rules or policies we put forward to
stop them from learning about something they want to know about. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">The Need to understand the unknown</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Why is it good
to let children play through an interest? One reason is so we can observe their
play to see what they know and what they still need to learn about the topic. Through
this observation, we usually find out that the play is not what we think it is!
Depending on the child’s age, they usually don’t grasp the whole concept
of the topic. For example, I was driving home from a party where I was given a
plant for a gift. My three year old son, in a tired bout of rage, said, “I want
to kill your plant!” Although I felt unsettled about the statement, I calmly
said, “Well, that would make me feel really sad because I really like my
plant.” I repeated these same statements two more times until he became silent.
After about two minutes he asked, “What does killing mean?” I calmly said, “When
you kill something it doesn’t come back. So if you killed my plant, I would not
have it anymore and that would make me feel sad.” And the conversation ended.
He knew that ‘killing’ was a strong word but he had not grasped what it meant. The
fact that he did not know what it meant made me feel better about the subject
and also gave me some time to figure out how I would answer the next questions
about killing and death that was sure to come. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">In
reflecting on this scenario, I realize that adults tend to jump to the conclusion
that children shouldn’t learn or play about certain topics because we look at
children’s play from an adult point of view. For example, when children engage
in wrestling or play fighting, some adults see it as real fighting and assume
that someone will get hurt. On the contrary, children see it as play and will
stop before someone gets hurt.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Adults know
about the world already, and if there is a topic we don’t know about, we are
able to research it on the internet, discuss unfamiliar topics with others (because
there is no one to stop us), and talk to friends about topics that make us feel
uncomfortable so they can help us deal with that feeling or solve an issue. Children
do not think like we do. For young children, they are still trying to figure
out their own thoughts and feelings. They may not be able to discuss a topic,
like gun play, or ask about an object like a gun because they are still trying
to understand what it is, what it does, or how it works. In my experience, this
is the first step before they can discuss a subject. Only after interacting
with the object or topic can they start to question why (e.g. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why do humans use or need guns?). This is like
being asked about how a dessert recipe turned out before you have even made the
dessert. So instead of discussing, children play out topics of interest to
better understand them, and once they have done this, then they start to inquire
about the topic and ask questions about it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Once children
understand the “why” behind a topic, they start to put feelings towards the
subject to build their own beliefs. Then they will go back to playing with that
answer to better understand that until the next ‘why’ comes. For example, I am
curious how many children started to build walls in their play after Donald
Trump started the “build the wall” campaign. While observing a student at their
child care centre, I watched children build a wall out of milk crates in their
outside playground. They told me, “This side is the US and this side is Canada”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wondered, did they understand why they were
building a wall between two countries? Or were they just doing it because they saw
it on the news or heard adults talking about it? In another scenario, a co-worker
told me that she saw children building pretend bombs and pretending they would
explode. I said, “Look what just happened”. It was after the Boston Marathon
Bombing: did the children understand that people got hurt and bombs were
dangerous? If they did know, then maybe the play was to figure out what
happened and how it happened. Or, maybe the children just wanted to understand
how something so small could cause such a big explosion. This is the same when
it comes to gun play, especially after the recent school shootings and other
gun tragedies in the news. This play is hard for adults to watch but it is how
children understand these tragedies or learn how they would deal with it if it
happened to them. To adults, children’s play is not always what it seems and
that is why we need to observe and wait before rushing to judgement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">The Need for ‘risky’ play </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Another way
children learn (specifically, learn to survive), is through developing physical
skills and through ‘risky play’. You may feel that you are supportive of
children developing new physical skills, but in order for them to learn a new
physical skill, there is a risk that they might get hurt. In my experience,
this is what makes most adults feel uncomfortable. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, Ellen Sandseter’s (2009) research on
the six categories of risky play is very helpful in understanding the need for
children to take these risks and why. These six categories include: (1) playing
with great heights, (2) high speed, (3) dangerous elements, (4) dangerous
tools, (5) getting lost or disappearing, and (6) rough and tumble play
(Sandseter, 2009). Although some of these categories do not include physical
skills, they do come with the risk of physical injury, which makes us want to protect
children from them. Yet their <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">need</b>
to learn these risky skills will override what we let them do. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even babies do this. As soon as babies can
move, they innately start to test their abilities, even after getting hurt. They
want to get faster and higher. My eldest son is proof of this. When he was 9
months, he climbed his first playground slide with me spotting him (this was
also the day he started to walk). It was amazing. And as soon as both of my
sons started to climb furniture and stairs, I let them learn how to fall (at
small heights and onto soft surfaces) so they could learn how to fall safely
and that there are consequences that come with climbing. Not an easy thing for
a mom to watch but an important skill for all of us to learn! Letting children
take risks though their play is the best way to help them foster all areas of
development, but only if we trust them to try. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Risk’ becomes ‘skill’ once a child has
mastered it, so if you are not letting them climb, wrestle, toboggan or
practice using tools, guess what they will do it when you are not looking? They
will find a way to learn that skill. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So wouldn’t
you feel better if they told you what they wanted to do so you could be their
spotter or the resource they need to learn the skill safely? (I promise to
discuss all these categories in greater depth in later blogs)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Children’s fears and the Need to play</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">The last
reason children <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">need </b>to play out
these topics or learn skills through risk is that it is a way for them to face
their fears. By understanding what scares us or trying out new ‘risky’ skills, children
find ways to problem solve how to deal with that feeling and /or how to handle
the situation if it were to happen to them. An example of this is the game “Don’t
touching the lava”. The children practice the physical skill of jumping from
one item (such as a stump) to another without touching the ’lava’ (ground). By
doing this, they are actually preparing to do it in more realistic situations
in case they are facing a dangerous element that is threatening their safety
(e.g. rocks in a river with a heavy current). That risk may seem scary to the
child at first, but as soon as they feel confident enough to try, they are
learning to face that fear until the risk becomes just a skill. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Recent research suggests that children who
take physical risks have a lower chance of developing phobias, depression, and anxiety
disorders (Sandseter, 2011; Brussoni et al., 2012). This may be due to the fact
that children who are encouraged to take risks are constantly trying new things
and consistently practicing how to cope and handle fear (i.e. practicing
self-regulation). </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Rockwell; mso-themecolor: text1;"><strong>What can we do to meet their Needs? </strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Rockwell; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Rockwell; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Rockwell; mso-themecolor: text1;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Rockwell; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Rockwell; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Rockwell; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Rockwell; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Rockwell; mso-themecolor: text1;">Instead of stopping or banning play, please observe it first. Think to
yourself, </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "rockwell" , serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">‘</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Rockwell; mso-themecolor: text1;">Why are they playing this? <strong>Is it out
of curiosity and to understand the topic better, to learn a skill, and/or to
get over a fear?</strong> When we trust children to follow their interests and needs,
we become better parents, caregivers and teachers and the children more
effective learners with some really great knowledge and skills.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Rockwell; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Rockwell; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><strong>
</strong></span></span></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 90%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Stay
Tuned for: <span style="color: #9e3611;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Comfort
Zones (Part 1): The Uncomfortable <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Self</b>,
what can I do… <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
Melinda Waldenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00255337404243063234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2311416608184376437.post-34050483121154680972018-02-26T17:53:00.001-08:002018-02-27T13:13:25.188-08:00Let the Children Play (Part 1): It's Their Right!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 106%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">CHILDREN
HAVE THE RIGHT TO PLAY AND SEEK INFORMATION OF ALL KINDS, EVEN IF IT MAKES US
ADULTS FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 106%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">I have done
many workshops about play and when I ask the participants, “Why have you stopped,
restricted, or banned children’s play?” they usually state one of the following:
the children were going to get hurt, the behaviour was going to get out of
control, the behaviour was disrupting the learning environment because it had escalated
into loud and rough types of play; or the focus of the play promoted an
inappropriate concept, seemed violent, and/or was aggressive. The participants
who admitting feeling comfortable with more controversial play themes were still
worried about the judgment of others, whether it was parents, coworkers or
others in the community. They were worried that others would view the play,
they were letting the children do, as wrong and/or they would tell a higher authority
about it. Such as, CFS, their Directors, or their Coordinators.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 106%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">In truth, these
are all valid reasons why caregivers want to stop play. I myself have stopped
play for these same reasons. However, I have realized that it is not respectful
to the children and their right to play.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 106%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">This right
to play has been clearly defined by the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the
Child. Since Canada is one of many countries that has signed the Convention, I
feel that it is our duty as Early Childhood Educators, parents, and community
members to help children maintain and fight for those rights. According to Article
13.1 in the Convention:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 106%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">THE CHILD
SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION; THIS RIGHT SHALL INCLUDE FREEDOM
TO SEEK, RECEIVE AND IMPART INFORMATION AND IDEAS OF ALL KINDS, REGARDLESS OF
FRONTIERS, EITHER ORALLY, IN WRITING OR IN PRINT, IN THE FORM OF ART, OR
THROUGH ANY OTHER MEDIA OF THE CHILD'S CHOICE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 106%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">By this
definition, a child has the right to express themselves though play, and if it
is a concept or topic that is a little controversial (e.g. gun play, death,
marriage equality), it is important that we help children seek honest, unbiased
information about the topic based on their age and understanding…even if it
makes us uncomfortable. By doing so we will help them learn how to form their
own opinions about what they believe. For example, is it okay to hunt animals? There
are many sides to this topic and all should be explored. You may be surprised
with what they think or how much they know about the topic. As an adult, you probably
already have your opinion on this topic, but can you put that aside so children
can learn to make their own?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 106%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Not only is
it a child’s right to play but also to seek information of all kinds. We should
not conceal any topic or type of play if the child is interested. But what
happens when we do? The child will try to understand about this topic through
their play, but without us knowing. They will try to hide their interest, which
will either make them really good at deceiving us and/or they will continue to
figure it out with the feeling of guilt for doing so. They will also feel they
will not be able to discuss the topic with you. Gun play is one example of such
a topic.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 106%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Before
starting a ‘gun play project’ with a group of 5 and 6 year old children, I had
seen a few children making guns out of Lego. When I asked them if they were
making guns, they quickly said, “No, it’s a laser”. Even though I knew they
were deceiving me, it closed the discussion because they were scared they were
going to get in trouble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This really
bothered me that they did not feel comfortable talking to me about their
interest, and I knew that they would learn more about guns by other means. This
was when I realized that I needed to change so they could use me as a resource
for their learning. I needed to follow the child’s interest even if the topic
was something we commonly restrict like gun play. By doing so we could research
their interest together and really look at all sides of the topic. What do they want to know? What
do they believe? What do others believe? And why? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could help them become even better
researchers and help them figure out what they wanted to learn.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 106%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">LET THE CHILDREN PLAY, SUPPORT THEIR
RIGHTS AND BE THE RESOURCE THEY NEED.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 106%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">“Canada
became a signatory to the U.N. Convention on the rights of the child on May 28,
1990 and it was ratified on December 13, 1991.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Stay tuned for: Let
the Children Play (Part 2): It’s a Need<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
Melinda Waldenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00255337404243063234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2311416608184376437.post-16959001570393388992018-02-17T09:08:00.003-08:002018-02-26T18:01:58.820-08:00Controversial Play: Play that Children want and need but are not trusted to do<span style="font-family: "calibri";">As adults we have more knowledge and experience of the world
than that of children, because of this we tend to view and analyze children’s
play based upon our learned beliefs and values. However, this sometimes brings
us to a crossroads when children begin to show interest in something that seems
“wrong”, “dangerous”, or “against our beliefs”. What do we do? Do we ignore the
children’s interest? Do we ban the children’s interest? Or do we let them
explore it? This blog will explore topics of children’s play that is commonly
restricted or banned for children and how us as adults can take a step back to
observe why children are showing interest in that topic so we can better
support their learning and understanding. Play in itself is the way children
express themselves and I believe in the child’s right to play. Even if it makes
us feel uncomfortable. Let's watch how children become smart, independent, resilient, and competent just by trusting them to play the topics they want to explore. </span>Melinda Waldenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00255337404243063234noreply@blogger.com3