DEAN SENSUI / DSENSUI@STARBULLETIN.COM
Katelyn Otani and Brennan Lee make up some imaginary dishes in the sandbox at St. Timothy's Children Center in Aiea.
Play at work In treating our children like little multitasking adults, we whisk them from one structured activity to the next. When free time does creep into their schedules, they often retreat to television or video games. All this leaves little time for the sort of playground interaction that adults were exposed to as kids.
Playtime is an essential part of
Play therapy helps kids cope
children's learning, educators sayBy Nancy Arcayna
narcayna@starbulletin.comSociety may have changed, but it is still our responsibility to raise self-reliant human beings, and play is critical to achieving that goal. According to Cindy Sydow, a kindergarten teacher at Honolulu Waldorf School, play is a form of learning that unites the mind, body and spirit.
"Parents have a lot of fear that their child will not make it in our fast-paced, competitive world," Sydow said.
"There is a lot of pressure to get more information in sooner," said Dolores Brockman, principal of St. Timothy's Children Center in Aiea.
But pushing children to become goal-oriented workaholics can work against them. Witness Michael Jackson's early musical success and his current obsession with reclaiming his childhood by living in Neverland.
Frustration and a lack of interest in learning can occur if development is forced.
When classroom concepts are introduced too rapidly, understanding is not complete, and children often resort to memorizing material, rather than learning it, to pass tests, Brockman explained. And although children spend countless hours doing homework, she said: "There isn't any proof that homework actually helps reinforce learning. A lot of it is mundane and tedious work.
"Kids need more time to run around and play. There is evidence that muscle work, running around and playing actually help with learning."
DEAN SENSUI / DSENSUI@STARBULLETIN.COM
Christian Chiffy takes apart a computer with a pair of long-nosed pliers in the science corner of St. Timothy's classroom.
Brockman believes a teacher's role is not to fill a child's brain with information, but to awaken a sense of wonder and discovery. Adults are reluctant to give children control over learning situations, so children are much freer to master their time and self-development as they play. Learning then becomes both fun and worry-free.
Sydow said she's concerned that neighborhood play has virtually disappeared. Those who live in condos often have nowhere to go, and because of safety issues, parents no longer allow children to wander far from their sight. "Children are being robbed of play," she said. That means they also lack exposure to the idea of teamwork, cooperation and community spirit, which shows up as antisocial behavior later.
The average child in elementary school gets two 15-minute breaks a day -- the equivalent of the work-time smoke break, according to Lori Takeyashi, a clerk at Aina Haina Elementary School. It's a ritual that allows them to expend pent-up energy. "When it is raining outside, the kids can't go out and play. They are climbing the walls. It's difficult for the teachers," she said.
In other words, if a child is not playing at home, he or she gets about 30 minutes of free play each day at school. "Fun and enjoyment are essential ingredients in early child development," Sydow said. It's a means of allowing children to digest the complexities of life." Yet, tragically, we are raising "little old people that bypassed childhood."
THE EDUCATORS say they see many parents who deem that learning occurs only when a child is sitting at a desk, with no fun involved. Yet most people want their children to be self-motivated -- not performing tasks simply because they know someone is going to reward them with a cookie or a star. By using play to allow children learn on their own, we are teaching them to be self-directed, Brockman said.
Play helps them become self-reliant. "They look to each other for answers and don't always go to the teacher for guidance," Brockman said. Play also gives children a sense of control, which builds confidence. "It's their agenda, so kids concentrate longer and time flies."
For instance, when kids play with blocks, they are working on mathematical concepts such as area, volume and measuring. "They need to make decisions, negotiate, compromise, learn to share and how to budget time," Brockman said. "They may not learn things as fast, but we believe that they receive a more solid foundation. The understanding is more complete, so when they move to the next level, things are easier."
The sandbox also provides a wealth of information, she added. "A younger kid learns about volume by filling and dumping sand. Science concepts are included if you add water. They quickly learn that adding too much water turns the sand to mush, and a little water makes it solid."
Brockman herself still feels the need to play. "I'm taking painting classes and it is a good outlet." Although she doesn't always find the end product desirable, she said she enjoys the process.
Art programs at various schools have caused grades to improve as they allow for the unfolding of a child's creativity, Brockman said. Sydow stressed that kids need to have a sense that "life is good."
"That is what carries them through the trials of adulthood," Sydow added.
Often, adults feel they need to fill their child's life with activities to prevent boredom, Brockman said. She says it's better to let them be bored, giving them the time to pursue their own ideas and do things their own way. "Kids need practice with everything, which includes dealing with boredom," Brockman said.
And there is always the parent who didn't enjoy his or her childhood and wants a second chance. "Some parents are living through their child. That creates an abundance of stress for children," Sydow said.
"Children who do not experience enough playtime often grow up to be adults who do the bare minimum. They spent too much of their youth on someone else's time schedule."
But perhaps one of the biggest time-robbers is technology. Adults need reminders to turn off the TV and head to the beach or take a walk. And that goes for children, who Sydow believes are spending too much time indoors. "It's a serious problem because development gets hindered. Everything is moving so fast nowadays. It's hard to experience anything on a deep level."
Brockman added: "Downtime lets them relax and gives them a chance to let their mind wander. Daydreaming is wonderful."
So the next time your think your child is "just playing," think again, Brockman said. They may be solving some great mystery.
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Therapist Carla Sharp uses a toy castle, among many other toys, to encourage children to express themselves through play. She says a great deal of drama is played out in the castle, especially the dungeon, as troubled children act out their experiences.
Grief, abuse and natural disasters are difficult for adults to cope with, so imagine the impact on children. Play is one tool therapists use to help children cope with and understand tragedy, change and pain. Play therapy helps
kids cope with change
By Nancy Arcayna
narcayna@starbulletin.com"Every child has the capability to heal himself," said Carla Sharp, a registered play therapist supervisor.
A therapist since 1985, Sharp uses art materials, a puppet theater, dollhouse, dress-up clothes, doctor's kits, a baby doll, a small schoolhouse and a castle to help children discover their hopes and dreams, anxieties and fears.
Play enables youngsters to relive events, she said, often without realizing that they are offering a glimpse into their thoughts. "Remnants of real life can always be found in play."
Play therapy can also be used to improve self-esteem and confidence.
Janine Shelby travels the globe helping children deal with the trauma of natural disasters. "Play is an international language," she said, although she has found different cultural takes on play. For example, in Taiwan, where Buddhism is practiced, it is not acceptable for children to express anger.
"When I was in Albania, there were no toys," she said. "We used a spool of yarn and even cigarette butts. When you are desperate, anything can be used."
On Friday and Saturday, Shelby will lead the Hawaii Association of Play Therapy Conference. Conference-goers will learn how children use play to manage distress, she said. Topics include post-traumatic play therapy and play therapy for sexually abused children.
Shelby led a Mental Health Red Cross team in Bosnia, where she worked with several teenage boys to rebuild a destroyed playground, returning children's laughter to a place that had become associated with death and decay. "I didn't use my clinical training. I used my hands to dig in the earth. I don't know if I've ever done anything more gratifying."
Parents often bring children to Sharp, demanding that she "fix them." Often, though, she will bring the whole family in to play, helping them learn about each other and how to get along better at home.
"There is no such thing as a perfect child or family," Sharp said. "When a person's car breaks down, they don't hesitate to get it fixed. When a family is breaking down, they also need to go in for a tuneup. It's always wise to get help when it's needed."
Play therapy has been used since the days of Freud, Sharp said. "The theme of good vs. evil is older than us all."
When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday Play Therapy Conference
Place: Hyatt Regency Hotel, Makai Ballroom
Admission: $225, includes lunch ($185 for Association for Play Therapy members, $140 for association students)
Call: 440-4624 or e-mail lehua@shaka.com or rachelleGR@aol.com
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