- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- preschoolers today articles
- preschoolers today q&a
- children today articles
- children today q&a
- community & groups
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
P.E. for Preschoolers?
Why Some Skills Should Not Be Self Taught
By Rae Pica
in physical activities that are 'unplanned' and self-selected. While self-selected play is important for young children, so is movement instruction that has been planned, sequenced and delivered by an informed teacher ... Without planned instruction and teacher-directed practice opportunities, the under-informed staff is really leaving movement learning and the acquisition and improvement of motor skills to chance."
Dr. Carson goes on to say that simply offering toys, props and a "gross motor area" is not enough – that parents and teachers would never leave children's cognitive development to chance. She insists, "They would not advocate learning to read or communicate by having their children enter a 'gross cognitive area' where children could engage in self-selected 'reading play' with a variety of books."
She's absolutely right! The notion of leaving cognitive or, for that matter, social/emotional development, to chance is completely ludicrous. (Do we thrust children out into the world and let them figure out how to get along in it on their own?) Yet we feel no similar sense of absurdity at the idea of leaving physical development to chance – that all we need to do is let the children play and they'll become ready for all the physical challenges life will bring their way.
COPEC has developed a position statement titled "Appropriate Practices in Movement Programs for Young Children Ages 3-5." The introduction includes the following paragraph:
"Childhood is the time to begin the development of active, healthy lifestyles. The development of skills, knowledge and attitudes leading to active, healthy lifestyles must be taught. Placing the child on the road to a lifetime of movement should begin early to ensure a lifetime of good health.