Another NPR story on play. . .and I find it somewhat confusing. - Page 2

[EmsMom]

I read the article and it seemed to me that what this was about was a kind of remedial class in play for children who are not accustomed to that kind of play. I seems as if they are "teaching" how to play because free play is considered to be so important. The truth is that, yes, free unstructured play is dying. An entire culture of childhood games and chants is being lost because the culture used to be primarily transfered between older child to younger child in a family or on the playground. So now it needs to be "taught" in school.

[peachymum]

Originally Posted by JamieCatheryn

But if you let them just play, freely, and give them the right tools and equip them with rest and full tummies, example, and a little guidance now and then, self regulation will come naturally.

[Leersia]

Originally Posted by greenthumb3

So, really, the main benefit of this type of curriculum involving directed play is to ready the child for the classroom. Point of article.

After posting this yesterday and ruminating on it for a while, I came to pretty much the same conclusion.