Module Four

     There are things that I struggle to say as an adult.  I have often reflected on my life and thought about how somewhere in my social development I learned that it was inappropriate to speak up for myself.  I learned that it was kind to filter my thoughts and feminine to be dainty and meek.  I learned that it was okay for boys to be loud and outgoing and to sometimes go against the grain.  As an adult, I battle this gender stereotype that was created within me so long ago.  I make an effort to speak out when I have something to share and express myself when I feel that something is important. I realize how important this attribute is to success.  Somehow we believe that it is okay for boys to be superheroes and girls to be victims or maidens.  I think it is so important as a parent and future teacher to make sure we aren’t labeling boys and girls with stereotypes and that we are asking students to challenge the stereotypes that already internally exist. What kind of world would we live in if boys didn’t cook and girls couldn’t be astronauts?

     When I reflect on all of the reasons that I struggle with speaking up, I also recognize that it can be even more challenging for children to express their feelings, especially when those feelings may be surrounding abuse or neglect.  There are many developmental aspects of play.  Play is something that children engage in for the sake of being enjoyable.  Vygotsky believed that play contributes significantly to cognitive development.  He believed that through play children learn to think more abstractly and symbolically and therefore more capable to think within the zone of proximal development.  Play enables students to explore less concrete principles, develop solutions and work through consequences.  Children learn important social skills, how to share and problem solve, all in an imaginary and safe place.  Chapter seven gives us ideas on how to effectively use play to help kids developmentally as well as how they can use play as a tool to work through problems.   Toys for play are usually broken into four categories; social and fantasy, exploration and mastery materials, music,/art and movement and gross motor play.  Giving children experience with all of these types of toys helps children grow developmentally.  As schools move away from play, considering it less valuable as students leave preschool and kindergarten, I think we must remember that play can be a tool to further student learning.