10/23/2025
This trend does worry me, with too many learning apps and videos on screens, too many flashcards, electric toys, and such. Children learn through creative play with real things and real people. They can learn way more about the alphabet by being read to and by playing outside and finding opportunities while playing to talk about letters. You can point out signs that you see in the environment or things written on playground equipment, and toys, and read them together.The same with math. For example, you can go to the playground and say “let’s climb up this ladder” and then count each step as they go up. Narrate everything and point things out in the environment while you play. My mother had her doctorate in early childhood special ed and she taught me from an early age (when I worked in child care) what experiences are best for learning. And none of them involved flashcards, electronic toys or screens. Except for the occasional Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers, or now, Daniel Tiger and Miss Rachel. But any screen time should be enjoyed together and discussed, in order for learning to take place. There should be lots of opportunity for free, unstructured playtime without a schedule. I know parents are busy and we don’t get to spend as much time with our kids as we’d like to, but even 15 minutes of free playtime when you get together at the end of the day and then reading to them at bedtime can have a huge impact!
RANT (with a healthy dose of begging topped with a big old PLEASE)
LET GO of directing young children.
LET GO of rigidly scheduling their days.
LET GO of believing learning only happens when children follow your agenda.
LET GO of controlling children.
LET GO of believing PRE= academics!!!! PRE=BEFORE (no matter what dictionary you use)
LET GO of HARMING and deterring a child's development.
PLEASE STOP IT!!!! (insert begging eyes with my anger-eyes at the ready)
The current trend of academic-focused early years is a detriment to a child's development. (read that again and again and again)
Controlling children with rigid schedules and rules is actually PREVENTING children from developing the skills they need to control themselves.
Replacing child-led PLAY with an adult agenda focused on "teaching how to pay attention" is actually PREVENTING a child from developing the ability to pay attention.
REMOVING or REDUCING child-led play in order to teach a child how to transition is actually PREVENTING children from developing the ability to transition.
FORCING children to sit still and listen is actually PREVENTING them from developing the skills needed to listen.
You may be wondering: "WHAT on earth sparked Denita's begging RANT?"
Visiting with friends this weekend at a wedding.
YEP!
I have not stopped thinking about the conversation yet.
One of my friends is an OT in the neighboring LARGE school district.
This district has 24 elementary schools. Each of those schools has a reputation.
It USED to be known which ones were "well behaved students" and which ones were "rougher".
My friend said that is no longer true.
Across the board....the behaviors in all 24 elementary classrooms is absolutely out of control.
She said things like "Kids have no idea about consequences, no social awareness, no patience, no perseverance.". Then went on to add "It's like they have never been expected to control themselves"
Now...we can talk all day about the many reasons for this, with class sizes being a HUGE contributing factor as well as the absolutely ridiculous expectations placed on teachers.
For the purposes of my page and my work with educating adults who have young children in their lives:
I am focusing on what has been ROBBED from children during their early years and the absolute harm said thievery has caused.
Yes. You read correctly.
The act of forcing academics onto young children is HARMING their development of LIFE skills.
It is the LACK of those skills and the autonomy and self control that accompanies them that is leading to the absolutely abhorrent behaviors happening in elementary classrooms.
Those behaviors continue as the academic expectations and pressures on children increase as they age.
The result? Adults that do NOT know how to:
•think independently
•be flexible thinkers
•persevere
•empathize
•think outside the box
•solve problems
•think critically
•ask for what they need
•manage social conflict in safe respectful ways
•assess and manage risk
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
STAND UP STAND UP STAND UP!!!
BE THE VOICE children need you to be
BE THE ACTION children need you to be
•Take the "LET GO" list to heart and apply it to your work.
•STOP catering to mis-informed parents and EDUCATE THEM on what js actually developmentally appropriate!!!
•STOP calling the rooms in child care
centers CLASSROOMS!!!!
Words are powerful! "Classroom" is a place for formal education to happen, it sends the WRONG message to parents. There is not an infant-5 year old in the entire world who needs formal education!
What NOT to do:
Remain quiet.
