Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
Research from The Alliance For Childhood finds that:
1. Increased playtime creates dendrite growth between neurons. The number of dendrite connections improves creative thinking abilities.
2. Increased playtime is the exercise that enhances mental and social skills.
3. Increased playtime enhances the abilities of children at each end of the learning spectrum.
4. By age ten, children who learned to read at age five have no academic advantage over those who learned to read at age seven.
5. Children are not ready for formal academics any earlier than they were over seventy years ago.
6. Germany and Finland have achieved world class results by rejecting that U.S. kindergarten model and embracing play based early childhood education.
7. High ranking European countries begin first grade at age seven, thus encouraging lengthy and playful childhoods.
8. The academic skills gained in kindergarten are merely short term gains without long term benefits.
9. Without developmentally appropriate kindergarten playtime, there are long term emotional consequences for children of all abilities
10. Children in today's kindergarten experience a double edged sword: they endure a pushed down curriculum without the appropriate playtime to relieve the stress of that curriculum.
The Alliance for Childhood states...
"Kindergarten children are rushed at developmental peril...We have conclusive evidence that children in play-based kindergartens have a double advantage over those who are denied play. They end up equally good or better at reading and other intellectual skills, and they are more likely to become well-adjusted healthy people."
Please sign this petition to encourage ACPS to embrace a healthier view of childhood and education.
More like this
Longer Days Should Have More Play
Let Kids Be Kids: Increase Recess Time In Our Schools
Updates
April 18, 2012
This milestone confirms that the district can no longer ignore the data regarding developmental needs. I am finalizing a formal proposal packet to present to the school board members at their upcoming public meeting.
8 Comments
Kids are meant to play. Stop trying to turn kindergarten into a boot camp. It is just sad.
Why are we pushing tiny kids to sit at desks all day?? It is not healthy and they just get bored and restless.
My son comes home stressed out every single day. Let them be kids for a little longer please.
AGREED. 75 minutes is way better. Keep the little ones active.
30 minutes is literally nothing for a 5 year old. They have so much energy and need to run around to actually focus in class.
Let the kids play!
Let kids be kids.
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Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
Research from The Alliance For Childhood finds that:
1. Increased playtime creates dendrite growth between neurons. The number of dendrite connections improves creative thinking abilities.
2. Increased playtime is the exercise that enhances mental and social skills.
3. Increased playtime enhances the abilities of children at each end of the learning spectrum.
4. By age ten, children who learned to read at age five have no academic advantage over those who learned to read at age seven.
5. Children are not ready for formal academics any earlier than they were over seventy years ago.
6. Germany and Finland have achieved world class results by rejecting that U.S. kindergarten model and embracing play based early childhood education.
7. High ranking European countries begin first grade at age seven, thus encouraging lengthy and playful childhoods.
8. The academic skills gained in kindergarten are merely short term gains without long term benefits.
9. Without developmentally appropriate kindergarten playtime, there are long term emotional consequences for children of all abilities
10. Children in today's kindergarten experience a double edged sword: they endure a pushed down curriculum without the appropriate playtime to relieve the stress of that curriculum.
The Alliance for Childhood states...
"Kindergarten children are rushed at developmental peril...We have conclusive evidence that children in play-based kindergartens have a double advantage over those who are denied play. They end up equally good or better at reading and other intellectual skills, and they are more likely to become well-adjusted healthy people."
Please sign this petition to encourage ACPS to embrace a healthier view of childhood and education.
Updates
April 18, 2012
This milestone confirms that the district can no longer ignore the data regarding developmental needs. I am finalizing a formal proposal packet to present to the school board members at their upcoming public meeting.
8 Comments
Fix this now. The school board is totally out of touch with what children actually need at this age.
Kids are meant to play. Stop trying to turn kindergarten into a boot camp. It is just sad.
Why are we pushing tiny kids to sit at desks all day?? It is not healthy and they just get bored and restless.
My son comes home stressed out every single day. Let them be kids for a little longer please.
AGREED. 75 minutes is way better. Keep the little ones active.
30 minutes is literally nothing for a 5 year old. They have so much energy and need to run around to actually focus in class.
Let the kids play!
Let kids be kids.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
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Fix this now. The school board is totally out of touch with what children actually need at this age.