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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>How Many Use A Play-Based Learning Environment
slpender 11:05 AM 10-23-2012
I am just wondering because that is how my program runs and always has but some parents just do not understand this. How to do you go about educating the parents. I think the worst one are the parents that teach in the public school system. I have one parent that all she cares about is her two year old knowing her letter and the letter sounds. I am ready to pull my hair out because this child has no self help skills what so ever she doesn't even know the difference between front and back.
Please help.
Please help.
lil angels 11:13 AM 10-23-2012
That's a hard one. When I interview parents I tell them straight up we do colors numbers sing songs do some crafts a few times a week but I am in no way a pre school teacher. I have had a few in my days to. I had a parent tell me that there child needs more of a learning environment not another mom as she put in her two week notice. I was very hurt but I have been a le to stay full I just let them know in advance now.
Some parents are never happy!
Some parents are never happy!
Blackcat31 11:15 AM 10-23-2012
This is similar to a handout I use to explain the importance of play to parents. http://www.cdacouncil.org/newsletter...lay-to-parents
I understand where the teachers are coming from too but they need to understand that kids not yet in school do not learn in the same manner as school aged children. Plus they have a group of one age and child care is often mixed ages.
HTH
Here is a website that has tons of great information about play http://pwoodw6715.com/HomeAwayFromHome/play.htm
This is a good handout too! http://www.thecel.net/families/publi...ce_of_Play.pdf
I understand where the teachers are coming from too but they need to understand that kids not yet in school do not learn in the same manner as school aged children. Plus they have a group of one age and child care is often mixed ages.
HTH
Here is a website that has tons of great information about play http://pwoodw6715.com/HomeAwayFromHome/play.htm
This is a good handout too! http://www.thecel.net/families/publi...ce_of_Play.pdf
itlw8 11:16 AM 10-23-2012
I do... I hand out articles all the time. I post links on my faceook page. I also take tons on picture and post them I point out what the child is learning during the activity. Children at this age do not learn from flashcards and worksheets those are done for parents who have not taken early childhood classes. So it is up to us to teach them ( the parent) how preschoolers learn.
Pictures has been the key for me. Using the teacher words to say the same thing but sounds like you know what you are talking about.
for that mom find something about kindergarten rediness skills and show her how the child needs to master those self help skils. As far as reading tell her they should be reading every night with the child. And tell her how often you read daily also.
Creative Curriculum has parent letters in the book you can copy. Check it out from the library and make some copies.
Pictures has been the key for me. Using the teacher words to say the same thing but sounds like you know what you are talking about.
for that mom find something about kindergarten rediness skills and show her how the child needs to master those self help skils. As far as reading tell her they should be reading every night with the child. And tell her how often you read daily also.
Creative Curriculum has parent letters in the book you can copy. Check it out from the library and make some copies.
SquirrellyMama 11:16 AM 10-23-2012
I have a play based daycare 
, but I don't have any advice for you. I don't start with letters and sounds that early. I've taught all three of my children to read and only one started before age 5. They were all reading by age 7. My son was reading but not fluently until age 8. My oldest was 6 and my youngest was 5. They are all very good readers even though my son is still not a book lover 
Before they learned to read, I read to them all the time and we played a lot!
K
, but I don't have any advice for you. I don't start with letters and sounds that early. I've taught all three of my children to read and only one started before age 5. They were all reading by age 7. My son was reading but not fluently until age 8. My oldest was 6 and my youngest was 5. They are all very good readers even though my son is still not a book lover Before they learned to read, I read to them all the time and we played a lot!
K
Cat Herder 11:27 AM 10-23-2012
Originally Posted by itlw8:
Pictures has been the key for me. Using the teacher words to say the same thing but sounds like you know what you are talking about.
.
Buzz words, Buzz Words, Buzz Words. Pictures has been the key for me. Using the teacher words to say the same thing but sounds like you know what you are talking about.
.
and, oh yeah...proof.
They are fending off their MILS questions and competitive friends boasting.
Anything you can give them to shut those folks down helps YOU. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikvcS3Oe-oA
Childminder 11:32 AM 10-23-2012
I do! High Scope which is what most HeadStart programs are based on and is also international. http://highscope.org
countrymom 11:40 AM 10-23-2012
I do, mine are all young and are jsut learning to talk so how am I suppose to teach them school stuff, I'm just trying to teach them not to pick their nose (apparently at 19months you discover you have holes in your nose)
Sugar Magnolia 11:40 AM 10-23-2012
I do! "Beyond Centers and Circle Time" Love it.
LK5kids 12:09 PM 10-23-2012
Oh, gosh if the parent is a teacher they should know better and they should also know little kids kids need developmentally appropriate environments. That's like if she teaches 4th grade and a parent is asking why she isn't teaching high school level algebra...
A 2yr. old has only been on the planet a very short time and has lots to learn....none of being letters and letter sounds...., and I was a kindergarten teacher. I know what I'm talking about. If a parent wants their 2 yr. old to learn letter sounds...fine, but the parent should do the teaching. During child care time your 2 year olds are busy being 2 yrs. old! How about learning animal sounds? Now that's a novel idea
This kind of stuff makes me cringe......
If a provider is teaching letters and sounds to 2 yr. olds then those 2 yr. olds are missing out on something they should be engaged in...
Oh, I'm on my soap box now
Also, I haven't checked in awhile but I'm sure the National Asscociation For the Young Child still takes a stand for play-based environments. The state of Iowa has also taken a stand against worksheets for preschoolers in public school programs and implemented Creative Curriculum as a their pre-k curriculum.
A 2yr. old has only been on the planet a very short time and has lots to learn....none of being letters and letter sounds...., and I was a kindergarten teacher. I know what I'm talking about. If a parent wants their 2 yr. old to learn letter sounds...fine, but the parent should do the teaching. During child care time your 2 year olds are busy being 2 yrs. old! How about learning animal sounds? Now that's a novel idea
This kind of stuff makes me cringe......
If a provider is teaching letters and sounds to 2 yr. olds then those 2 yr. olds are missing out on something they should be engaged in...
Oh, I'm on my soap box now
Also, I haven't checked in awhile but I'm sure the National Asscociation For the Young Child still takes a stand for play-based environments. The state of Iowa has also taken a stand against worksheets for preschoolers in public school programs and implemented Creative Curriculum as a their pre-k curriculum.
NeedaVaca 12:10 PM 10-23-2012
Google Play based learning in Finland You could find tons of articles to share with parents! Finland is doing something right!! I attended a seminar on this very topic once.
You could find tons of articles to share with parents! Finland is doing something right!! I attended a seminar on this very topic once.
Crystal 05:09 PM 10-23-2012
I do. It comes down to "making the learning visible"
So....document as you observe children playing. Take photos of them in action and jot down what it is they were learning in that moment, dictate their stories for them when they draw pictures, etc. Then make wall displays/photo albums, etc. with a few words about what was happening, what the child said/did/asked/etc. and when the parents ask, show them your panels or albums. So....for instance, a child is beginning to attempt writing letters.....take photos, keep the "writing" papers each time and when that first letter appears (and it will), create panels or a portfolio and you can SHOW parents what emergent writing looks like. No tracers, no standing over the child drilling them on it....they learned through the natural progression of development!
So....document as you observe children playing. Take photos of them in action and jot down what it is they were learning in that moment, dictate their stories for them when they draw pictures, etc. Then make wall displays/photo albums, etc. with a few words about what was happening, what the child said/did/asked/etc. and when the parents ask, show them your panels or albums. So....for instance, a child is beginning to attempt writing letters.....take photos, keep the "writing" papers each time and when that first letter appears (and it will), create panels or a portfolio and you can SHOW parents what emergent writing looks like. No tracers, no standing over the child drilling them on it....they learned through the natural progression of development!
slpender 05:48 PM 10-23-2012
Thank you everyone for the great advice. I will start posting more pictures for the parents on our facebook page. I also use Creative Curriculum maybe I will resend some of the parent letters in my up coming news letters. Thanks for all the great links.
slpender 05:53 PM 10-23-2012
Originally Posted by Cat Herder:
Buzz words, Buzz Words, Buzz Words.
and, oh yeah...proof.
They are fending off their MILS questions and competitive friends boasting. Anything you can give them to shut those folks down helps YOU.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikvcS3Oe-oA
I love this. This is the parent I am dealing with.Buzz words, Buzz Words, Buzz Words.
and, oh yeah...proof.
They are fending off their MILS questions and competitive friends boasting.
Anything you can give them to shut those folks down helps YOU. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikvcS3Oe-oA
Lyss 07:01 PM 10-23-2012
Originally Posted by Cat Herder:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikvcS3Oe-oA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikvcS3Oe-oA
I love that! "We use disposable diapers"
"I think a baby seal just died"
...I have friends that I could totally picture using that line!
Sunshine74 07:04 PM 10-23-2012
Check out the Ooey Gooey Lady- Lisa Murphy. She is all about Play Based Learning. I was able to see her speak at a conference last year (and got to talk to her) and I cannot recommend her more. And she's hilarious.
http://www.ooeygooey.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/OoeyGooeyLady
http://www.ooeygooey.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/OoeyGooeyLady
canadiancare 05:49 AM 10-24-2012
I run a home daycare with a family based focus which is what I tell my parents. The kids have free play the same way they would if they were at home but I also sing songs, read books, do crafts etc. I leave room for flexibility in the day and structured activities are always the things that get dropped if we are running short on time.
It probably helps that my 3 kids are older so they can see it works since 2 are in university and the youngest is doing very well in high school.
If I ever notice that a kid needs more than I am willing to offer in my setting I have no problem telling the parent that an institutional type preschool may be more their speed.
I do have a little 3 year old who comes 2 days a week and I have told the parents that she is probably bored playing with 2 year olds but they don't mind. I do have to redirect her to the kids because she wants to interact with me (talk my ear off) too often/
It probably helps that my 3 kids are older so they can see it works since 2 are in university and the youngest is doing very well in high school.
If I ever notice that a kid needs more than I am willing to offer in my setting I have no problem telling the parent that an institutional type preschool may be more their speed.
I do have a little 3 year old who comes 2 days a week and I have told the parents that she is probably bored playing with 2 year olds but they don't mind. I do have to redirect her to the kids because she wants to interact with me (talk my ear off) too often/
Meeko 06:19 AM 10-24-2012
Every parent I enroll gets a copy of the pamphlet "Play is FUNdemental" from NAEYC. I always keep them on hand.
http://www.naeyc.org/store/node/29
http://www.naeyc.org/store/node/29
littlemissmuffet 06:33 AM 10-24-2012
We are play-based. I let parents know that we work on BASIC preschool learning (shapes, colors, numbers, etc) and have story time, circle time, and arts and crafts - but the majority of time we learn through play. I simply explain how and what kiddos can learn through play (similiar to what some of the handouts in this thread explain) and that's the end of it. The conversation last about 2 minutes during the interview and I usually never hear about it again.
NLHC 06:38 AM 10-24-2012
We are Reggio Inspired and Eco-friendly here so everything is play-based and tailored to the children's unique and individual interests. 
We follow the Reggio Emilia Approach as well as Magda Gerber's RIE. We really focus on observation and documentation to follow the children's lead and create a curriculum based upon their current theories and explorations. We use a lot of open ended materials, mostly wooden toys- minimal plastics, and are completely TV free.
We follow the Reggio Emilia Approach as well as Magda Gerber's RIE. We really focus on observation and documentation to follow the children's lead and create a curriculum based upon their current theories and explorations. We use a lot of open ended materials, mostly wooden toys- minimal plastics, and are completely TV free.