Let the Children Play. How more play will save our schools and help children thrive - Pasi Sahlberg and William Doyle, foreword by Sir Ken Robinson
I love this book. I have referenced it s few times in previous posts, so thought I would write a little more about it for those interested.
The authors carefully and methodically go through research supporting the importance of play and the many benefits it can have. They discuss the forces that have pushed play out of schools, and suggest ways to bring it back. They discuss different models of playful learning and address some of the arguments against play.
One of the most alarming statistics I took from the book was that by the time they are 7 years old, children have typically spent more than 1 year alone with a screen - and that this is more than two and a half times the amount of time they have spent playing outside with other children. The skills our children will need to be successful in the future can’t be gained from a screen in isolation. The authors argue that the 21st century skills our children really need are not anything to do with technology, coding and the like, but they are curiosity, identifying challenges, being risk takers, connecting with others, and so on.
There is a table included which I have referred to during many conversations, highlighting that play can be used in all subject areas at all ages, and that play naturally leads to other areas of learning.
* playful teaching and learning, discovery, and experimentation with adult guidance
** regular periods for free play, choice, and passion projects that offer self-directedness, intrinsic motivation, positive emotions, process orientation, and use of imagination.
I liked that the authors acknowledge that adult guided “playful teaching” also has a place, along with self directed or free choice play - many people assume that play in the classroom lacks direction or rigour.
I did find some sections of this book repetitive, I didn’t need to be convinced of the importance of play, I wanted to know more about how I can implement play in the classroom! However, the sheer number of examples given and research discussed have meant that I am better able to address objections when questioned about my own program.
I highly recommend this book to anyone that is looking for a research backed argument for the importance of play in the classroom.
Have you read this book? Do you have any other recommendations for great books about play in the classroom? Let me know!
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