Tools that teach self-regulation through play

[twinergy]

I thought some parents here might be interested in the Tools of the Mind pre-K and Kindergarten curriculum which uses mature intentional dramatic play to help develop self-regulation. Has anybody heard of this curriculum? I would appreciate any feedback since I am looking into this for my DS when he is old enough for preschool.

Creative Play Makes for Kids in Control NPR articles by Alix Spiegel


What is Mature, Extended, Pretend Play – Exactly? Newsweek article by Po Bronson


Can the Right Kinds of Play Teach Self-Control? NY Times article by Paul Tough

Tools of the Mind website: Myths and realities by Elana Bedrova and Deborah Leong

[hadleys_mom]

Thanks for posting. I looked into it but it is only offered to school districts to buy. :-(

[twinergy]

I had always planned on homeschooling too, but may put my kids in half day kindergarten for 1 year if they had this curriculum available in my school district. I made some calls today and talked to someone in special education who sounded very interested in this program. But if they don’t offer it I was thinking of organizing a Tools of the Mind inspired playgroup with other homeschoolers. My twins are 3 years away from kindergarten so I haven’t made the time yet to go through the resources. But I have found 3 videos and 2 books by Bodrova/Leong which may be worth looking into all of which appear to be available through the inter-library loan system. (WorldCat has over 70,000 participating libraries worldwide and is a fantastic resource to get all kinds of materials from other libraries on loan. You can ask your local library about it if you aren’t already familiar.)

Videos:
Play: A Vygotskian Approach
Vygotsky's Developmental Theory: An Introduction
Scaffolding Self-Regulated Learning in Primary Classrooms

Books:
Tools of the Mind: The Vygotskian Approach to Early Childhood Education
1st edition
2nd edition