Nancy Carlsson-Paige is an early childhood education professor and founder of Lesley University’s Center for Peaceable Schools, in Cambridge, MA. She has written and spoken extensively about the impact of violence, especially in the media, on children’s lives and social development. She believes three things are essential for a child’s healthy development: Time and space for creative play, a feeling of security, and strong, meaningful relationships with adults and other children. She also believes play and hands-on interactions are critical in order for genuine learning to occur.
Reclaiming Play: Helping Children Learn and Thrive in School
Carlsson-Paige, N. (2008). Reclaiming Play: Helping Children Learn and Thrive in School. Exchange Press, Redmond WA.
Play is slowly being eroded from a young child’s experience, thanks to media influence, commercialism and our fast-paced lifestyle. The consequences are that many young children today are robbed of the opportunity for free play, which is essential for their growth and learning. In fact, Carlsson-Paige writes many children do not know how to play, and many simply imitate scenarios from television and movies. She blames this on legislation that was passed in the US in the mid-80s allowing the marketing of toys and products for children that are directly tied to TV. She also writes educators have an important role in taking back healthy play for children.
