PLAY=LEARNING

Professor Kathy Hirsh-Pasek - Temple University

Professor Roberta Golinkoff - University of Delaware

Preparing the 21st century child for a global world

The Economic Imperative The Economic Imperative for Quality Early for Quality Early

EducationEducation

For every dollar spent on quality For every dollar spent on quality early childhood education, early childhood education, society saves a minimum of $7 society saves a minimum of $7 and a maximum of $17 on each and a maximum of $17 on each person.person.

- Galinsky (2006) Economic benefits of high quality early - Galinsky (2006) Economic benefits of high quality early childhood programschildhood programs

WHY?WHY?

On productivity grounds alone, it …makes On productivity grounds alone, it …makes sound business sense to invest in young sound business sense to invest in young children from disadvantaged children from disadvantaged environments… early childhood environments… early childhood interventions are much more effective than interventions are much more effective than remedies that attempt to compensate for remedies that attempt to compensate for early neglect in later life. Enriched pre-early neglect in later life. Enriched pre-kindergarten programs…coupled with home kindergarten programs…coupled with home visitation programs, have a strong track visitation programs, have a strong track record of record of promoting achievement…, promoting achievement…, improving labor market outcomes, and improving labor market outcomes, and reducing involvement with crime.reducing involvement with crime.

- Heckman & Masterov (2004) The productivity argument for investing in young children

But how do we create But how do we create quality early childhood quality early childhood

environments?environments? Research suggests that Research suggests that

high quality early high quality early education programs are education programs are characterized by playful characterized by playful environments in which environments in which children have strong children have strong relationships with their relationships with their caregivers and are caregivers and are engaged in active learning.engaged in active learning.

And this is true for all And this is true for all childrenchildren

Rural and urbanRural and urban Rich and poorRich and poor Across all ethnic groupsAcross all ethnic groups

All children need high-quality early All children need high-quality early education and the opportunity to education and the opportunity to learn through play! learn through play!

But whatever happened to But whatever happened to play?play?

In 1981, a typical school-age child in the In 1981, a typical school-age child in the United States had 40% of her time open United States had 40% of her time open for play. By 1997, the time for play had for play. By 1997, the time for play had shrunk to 25%.shrunk to 25%.

What percentage is it down to now??What percentage is it down to now??

We are wearing out our We are wearing out our youngest children byyoungest children by

•Engaging in “drill-and-kill” Engaging in “drill-and-kill” activities rather than playful and activities rather than playful and meaningful learning, meaningful learning, even at the even at the youngest ages!youngest ages!

•Testing for “factoids” rather than Testing for “factoids” rather than real learningreal learning

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (LZW) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Expecting children to learn like adults Expecting children to learn like adults has consequences…has consequences…

Preschoolers in the U.S. are being Preschoolers in the U.S. are being expelled at 3 times the rate of children in expelled at 3 times the rate of children in K-12. K-12.

Dr. Walter S. Gilliam, the principal investigator of Dr. Walter S. Gilliam, the principal investigator of

the Yale Child Studythe Yale Child Study

In the 4 billion dollar tutoring business In the 4 billion dollar tutoring business (still growing), 20% of the children being (still growing), 20% of the children being tutored are 2-6 years old (Junior Kumon tutored are 2-6 years old (Junior Kumon and Kaplan)and Kaplan)

National Public Radio June 6, 2005National Public Radio June 6, 2005

And more…..And more…..

““Educational” toysEducational” toys have become a have become a billion dollar industry, much of it billion dollar industry, much of it promoting “one-right-answer” promoting “one-right-answer” learning and little creativitylearning and little creativity

AssessmentAssessment has become a huge has become a huge industry in the U.S.as accountability industry in the U.S.as accountability becomes the norm and learning is becomes the norm and learning is defined through a narrow lensdefined through a narrow lens

We are confusingWe are confusing

learninglearning with with memorizationmemorization

and and

academic achievementacademic achievement with with successsuccess

Teachers are forced to choose Teachers are forced to choose betweenbetween

And parents are barraged with books And parents are barraged with books that speak to their newly created that speak to their newly created

anxietiesanxietiesabout whether their children will about whether their children will

succeedsucceed

As a society, we have a choiceAs a society, we have a choice

ROBOTS? CREATIVE THINKERS?

The 21st Century ChildThe 21st Century Child

Has facts at Has facts at her fingertips.her fingertips.

To be a lifelong To be a lifelong learner, learner,

and a productive and a productive citizen, she must citizen, she must become a creative become a creative thinker who can use thinker who can use information in information in innovative ways.innovative ways.

It is critical to find some It is critical to find some balance balance

between the desire to breed little between the desire to breed little “Einsteins” and the need to foster play as a “Einsteins” and the need to foster play as a

foundation for academic and social foundation for academic and social learning. learning.

How did we move from a How did we move from a childhood dominated by play to childhood dominated by play to one that is more skill oriented?one that is more skill oriented?

We believe thatWe believe thatWell-intentioned parents and Well-intentioned parents and

teachersteachers

Have been misled by . . .Have been misled by . . .

Exaggerated scienceExaggerated science

Societal forcesSocietal forces

Marketing ploysMarketing ploys

Exaggerated ScienceExaggerated Science

Remember the Remember the “Mozart “Mozart Effect”?Effect”?

“the existence of a short-lived effect by which music enhances . . . performance in adults does not lead to the conclusion that exposing children to classical music will raise their intelligence.”

Professor Hetland (Harvard): examined 67 studies on the “Mozart Effect” with 4,564 adults

The REAL evidence

Societal ForcesSocietal Forces

Even comic strips reflect our insatiable Even comic strips reflect our insatiable appetite for products that will boost IQ appetite for products that will boost IQ and save our children from the fate of and save our children from the fate of

being *gasp* “normal.”being *gasp* “normal.”From Baby Blues

Reprinted with permission of King Features Syndicate

Marketing PloysMarketing Ploys

In this talk we In this talk we will will

demonstrate . . .demonstrate . . .What 30 years of What 30 years of

developmental science has developmental science has taught us about how to create taught us about how to create

lifelong learners.lifelong learners.

The accumulated evidence The accumulated evidence suggests:suggests:

1.1. Early education is important but . . .Early education is important but . . .-- HowHow you learn is as important as you learn is as important as whatwhat you you learn.learn.

2. E.Q. is as important as I.Q.2. E.Q. is as important as I.Q.

3.3. Each of you has a role to play in helping Each of you has a role to play in helping children become life-long learners.children become life-long learners.

- You are the village- You are the village

A talk in three parts

Part 1Part 1

1.1. What’s the evidence that early What’s the evidence that early education is important ?education is important ?

2. E.Q. is as important as I.Q.2. E.Q. is as important as I.Q.

3.3. Each of you has a role to play in Each of you has a role to play in helping children become life-long helping children become life-long learners.learners.

- You are the village- You are the village

Three kinds of studies Three kinds of studies illustrate this point:illustrate this point:

Their goal?

To understand the achievement gap

The findings…The findings…

In an average year, children hear…In an average year, children hear…

11 million words11 million words - - Professional homesProfessional homes

6 million words6 million words - Working class homes - Working class homes 33 million words - Welfare homes million words - Welfare homes

By age 3 these children had By age 3 these children had HUGE differences in vocabulary and differences in vocabulary and in IQ scoresin IQ scores

Early Head Start has made a tremendous difference here in Early Head Start has made a tremendous difference here in helping all children hear more language and use more helping all children hear more language and use more

language!language!

Early learning Early learning matters!matters!

We see this in the Head Start We see this in the Head Start data too…data too…

Early Head Start(2002):

17 programs, 3001 families, random assignment study

Head Start Impact Study (2005):

84 programs, 5000 children, random assignment study

The Positive Results

Early Head Start(2002):

The programs: Center based, Home-based, Mixed approach

The findings: Higher Mental Age scores Higher language scores > attention; < aggression

> parent involvement, e.g., reading

Positive Results Cont. Positive Results Cont.

Head Start Impact Study (2005):

The programs: Head Start program vs. Head Start-eligible community

The findings: Head Start children had:

> pre-reading scores> pre-writing scores> vocabulary< problem behaviors

The positive effect that Head Start attendance has on pre-reading skills is comparable to, or larger than, the effect that homework has on school achievement, the effect that lead poisoning has on diminished IQ scores, and the effect that asbestos exposure has on cancer occurrence (Phillips & McCartney, 2005).

And in an intervention study And in an intervention study that spans into adulthood…that spans into adulthood…

Campbell & Ramey

These researchers asked:These researchers asked:

How much can cognitive development be

enhanced by

environmental stimulation?

Loooooong-term intervention study

•Children were either in a high qualitychild care environment or anordinary environment at age 5.

•Children followed until 21 years of age!

•What they found might shock you

Reading scores over timeReading scores over time

Math Achievement over timeMath Achievement over time

Percent ever attending a 4 year Percent ever attending a 4 year collegecollege

The bottom line?The bottom line?

Early experience mattersEarly experience matters

BUTBUT….….

HowHow you learn is as you learn is as important as important as whatwhat you learn you learnPreschool children in highly academic, “drill Preschool children in highly academic, “drill

and kill” learning environments are:and kill” learning environments are:

More aggressive More aggressive

More anxious More anxious

More perfectionisticMore perfectionistic

Than those who learn in Than those who learn in playfulplayful environments environments where learning is where learning is meaningfulmeaningful. .

Play = LearningPlay = Learning

In reading…In reading…

Telling storiesTelling stories Word playWord play

(what rhymes with (what rhymes with “hat”?)“hat”?)

Singing songsSinging songs Dialogical readingDialogical reading Reading product Reading product

labelslabels Engaging Engaging

conversationsconversationsMany of these are already included in the Virginia Foundations for Early Learning

READING IS NOTREADING IS NOT

Phonics without funPhonics without fun

Simply memorizing the alphabet or vocabulary Simply memorizing the alphabet or vocabulary wordswords

These do NOT build great readersThese do NOT build great readers

Why?Why?

Learning works best in Learning works best in meaningful contexts!meaningful contexts!

In mathIn math Finding patternsFinding patterns Dividing candyDividing candy Sorting trail mixSorting trail mix ““I spy”I spy” Noticing more and Noticing more and

lessless (“She got more ice (“She got more ice

cream”)cream”) Lemonade standsLemonade stands Playing cardsPlaying cards

MATH for PreschoolersMATH for PreschoolersIS NOTIS NOT

Memorizing equationsMemorizing equations 1 + 1 = 21 + 1 = 2

Flashcards of numbersFlashcards of numbers

Computer software for toddlersComputer software for toddlers

Even in physics?Even in physics?

There are lessons There are lessons learnedlearned

When you throw a When you throw a ball?ball?

Or push it to the Or push it to the front of the room?front of the room?

Or make it fly. Or make it fly.

As Einstein once said…As Einstein once said…

"The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education."

HowHow you learn is as important as you learn is as important as whatwhat you learnyou learn

PLAY = LEARNINGPLAY = LEARNING

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Part 2Part 2

1. How you learn is as important as 1. How you learn is as important as what you learnwhat you learn..

2. E.Q. is as important as I.Q.2. E.Q. is as important as I.Q.

3.3. Each of us has a role to play in Each of us has a role to play in helping children become intelligent helping children become intelligent and happy.and happy.

A tale of two SpocksA tale of two Spocks

Dr. Benjamin Spock got it all along: social Dr. Benjamin Spock got it all along: social and emotional skills matter -- a lotand emotional skills matter -- a lot

Mr. Spock did not get it: He is all Mr. Spock did not get it: He is all intelligence and no social skillsintelligence and no social skills

““From the last two decades From the last two decades of research, it is of research, it is

unequivocally clear that unequivocally clear that children’s emotional and children’s emotional and behavioral adjustment is behavioral adjustment is

important for their chances important for their chances

of early school successof early school success.”.”

Raver, 2003

Scientific evidence also points to the power of social skills for emotional health and

intellectual growth!

For example…For example… Parental talk about emotions creates children Parental talk about emotions creates children

who are more sensitive to others’ emotions. who are more sensitive to others’ emotions.

““How would you feel if she took your How would you feel if she took your bear?”bear?”

Identifying emotion is important Identifying emotion is important for understanding yourself and for understanding yourself and

others.others.

EQ (EQ (emotional emotional intelligenceintelligence) is important ) is important

for…for… Building moral character in children who Building moral character in children who

learn right from wronglearn right from wrong

An understanding of who we are, andAn understanding of who we are, and

An understanding of othersAn understanding of others

ANDANDBelieve it or not….it is critical forBelieve it or not….it is critical forSUCCESS IN SCHOOL AND IN THE WORK FORCESUCCESS IN SCHOOL AND IN THE WORK FORCE

EQ does not develop on its ownEQ does not develop on its own

Children learn it from adultsChildren learn it from adults

Children learn it from other childrenChildren learn it from other children

Children learn it through PLAYChildren learn it through PLAY

Part 3Part 3

1.1. Early education is important but . . .Early education is important but . . .-- How you learn is more important than what you How you learn is more important than what you learn.learn.

2. E.Q. is as important as I.Q.2. E.Q. is as important as I.Q.

3.3. Each of us has a role to play in Each of us has a role to play in helping children become happy and helping children become happy and intelligent.intelligent.

‘‘It takes a village to raise It takes a village to raise a child’a child’

Ancient African ProverbAncient African Proverb

““Learning is the heartbeat of a strong Learning is the heartbeat of a strong society.”society.”

Andrea Camp

Family

School Library

Media

MuseumReligion

The Arts

A Huge GAPA Huge GAP

What we know in science…

What we do

It is time to bridge the GAP!It is time to bridge the GAP!

What we know… What we do

The science seems to…The science seems to…

Fly in the face of a global world that Fly in the face of a global world that thinksthinks Faster is betterFaster is better Every moment must countEvery moment must count

Yet there is virtual consensus in our Yet there is virtual consensus in our field of child psychology that field of child psychology that

children do not thrive when they are children do not thrive when they are hurried with no time to explore!hurried with no time to explore!

Thus, in Thus, in Einstein Never Used Flash Einstein Never Used Flash CardsCards

We,We,

Bridge the gap between Bridge the gap between science and practicescience and practice

Show how children Show how children reallyreally learn learn

Give real life examples Give real life examples that can be used in the that can be used in the school room and in the school room and in the living room (as well as in living room (as well as in the library, museum and the library, museum and media)media)

To reach her full To reach her full potential as a lifelong potential as a lifelong

learner . . .learner . . .The 21st century The 21st century child must do more child must do more than just learn the than just learn the facts; she needs to facts; she needs to integrate them into integrate them into a creative a creative framework that framework that meets the demands meets the demands of our global of our global society.society.

To reach her potential as To reach her potential as a productive citizen…a productive citizen…

she needs to have a high-quality early education that will prepare her for the workplace of tomorrow.

We know what it takes to raise intelligent, well-adjusted, successful children.

It is incumbent upon us to put science into practice!