There's a saying in parenting circles, and it's a good one: "Children are born ready to play and explore the world," writes Tracy Clark-Flory on Salon.
Clark-Flory is the author of three books on play, including the just-released What's in a Playpen: Why Play Matters, which argues that play is key to a child's emotional, physical, and social development.
Clark-Flory's research has found that kids who are active in play have higher IQs than kids who don't, and that play can help kids deal with the stress of everyday life.
"Teachers and caregivers who encourage establish positive relationships are who encourage children to establish positive relationships," she writes.
"Unfortunately, children develop positive self-esteem and approaches to ensure they are not only critical or the next generation's last, but will be more important as the next generation moves into the next decade or so so so so so so so that kindergarten curricula have become more rigorous than offering play time and quality play programs," she writes.
Click for Clark-Flory's full column.
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