Free Play

I think the experts are trying to tell us something because I keep finding article after article warning parents to stop over-scheduling their young children with sports and academic classes and dismissing the notion that so-called educational toys and videos will make children smarter.

We all want to make sure our babies are able to compete - even thrive - once they reach kindergarten, but there is something much more valuable for them to do at this stage: free play.

The Wilmington (Del.) News interviewed a University of Delaware education professor about the "educationalization" of young children. The professor says she would much rather parents take the old-fashioned approach to learning.

There are plenty of tips in this article and a list of benefits by carving out time for free play.

It struck me funny that all the benefits listed are the same ones that prompted me to buy the Baby Einstein videos, enroll my son in music class and start teaching him a second language.

Just think of all the money I could have saved if I just allowed him to play with his blocks and bang on the pots and pans instead.

Here's the link:
http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070612/LIFE/706120313/-1/NEWS01