Death of Preschool?: The trend in early education is to move from a play-based curriculum to a more school-like environment of directed learning. But is earlier better? And better at what?

 Death of Preschool?: The trend in early education is to move from a play-based curriculum to a more school-like environment of directed learning. But is earlier better? And better at what?:

This article really highlights play and the importance of allowing children to explore unencumbered by demonstration and over direction from educators. It's interesting how there is this perceived need for children to be "learner" ready for school, so that preschools feel pressure to change their programming and how they interact with children.

Its all become about how much and how quickly children can absorb specific information. There is this belief that this learned rote behaviour will some how make them "better" than their counterparts at school.  Will it really? Does knowing where Vietnam is on a map make a child a better student, able to suck up that information, spew it back out on cue. Will subjecting them to these "cookie cutter" educational routines ensure the rest of their lives are"successful"?  Probably not.

It is and has always been play that helps link up all those neurones in the brain.... free, uninterrupted back to basics play that doesn't cost $14,000.00 a term or require parents to compete for that selective preschool position.

T