"Play is how we social animals learn the rules of being social. Sort of counterintuitive when you think about it: Play is how you learn rules… It's a very valuable thing for childhood development. And we as a culture have to learn to use it properly and have to make sure our kids get plenty of it."
The importance of play for young learners is often downplayed. However, research shows that it may be an integral part of a child’s development. This short NPR piece suggests that providing children with ample playtime allows them to develop important social and behavioral skills. An entertaining animation accompanies the article, explaining the research being done that supports this notion. Collaborative research is working to tie together the use of play and impactful math teaching.
The Early Math Collaborative works to improve math instruction for young children in three ways:
