December 2007

Increasingly, scientists and child development experts believe that play is how young children learn. During the holiday season, parents are bombarded with messages about toys that claim to help young minds grow, but United Way of King County wants to emphasize that what kids really need to thrive are strong, nurturing relationships with parents and caregivers. Children learn in the context of relationships, and those bonds are the key to successful learning and healthy development. 

Toys should be viewed as tools to promote interaction. Cheryl Buettemeier, M.S., C.C.C. S.L.P., who is a program director and speech-language pathologist at Boyer Children’s Clinic, and a presenter for United Way of King County’s Lunch & Learn series on early learning, offers this advice when playing with young children:

• Safety first

• Watch and wait

• Follow the leader

• Join in the child’s play

• Take on the child’s perspective

• Present new challenges

• Be spontaneous and have fun!

“School readiness” is not just about academics. It’s about kids being able to get along with others, sit still, focus, follow directions, take turns, and much more. Engaging children through play can teach them social, emotional, physical and cognitive skills. Learn more about the importance of play on our Web site.  

Investigate further…

• Ideas for playtime – Tips from Born Learning on engaging kids in play.
• Tips for choosing holiday toys - Visit the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Web site for information on selecting the safest and most appropriate toys for young children. If you are considering purchasing toys this season, be aware of safety recalls.
• Report from the American Academy of Pediatrics - Identifies and explores a variety of factors that have reduced the occurrence of free play in young children's life, including a hurried lifestyle, changes in family structure, and increased attention to academics and enrichment activities.
• “Should preschools teach all work and no play?” - MSNBC article about a study that looked at three different preschool models: play-based, academic, and middle of the road programs, and found that children in play-based programs showed stronger academic performance.
• "Play in the Early Years: Key to school success" - A policy brief about how essential play is to early child development.

Together we have the ability to change our community
for the better in fundamental, lasting ways.

For more information on why United Way of King County cares so much about kids and what we're doing to promote early learning in our community, visit our web site. If you have specific questions or needs pertaining to early learning, please contact earlylearning@uwkc.org

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