Recommendations

It’s hard not to run scared these days if you believe in children’s old-fashioned, spontaneous play. Endangered by high-tech toys, marketing pressure, and screen media, time for self-initiated play is rapidly being crowded out of children’s lives. In his latest book, The Power of Play, Dr. David Elkind, Tufts University professor of child psychology, endorses what research continues to confirm: Play is children’s primary pathway not only to learning, but also to their physical well-being, creativity, and emotional health.

Elkind’s book offers a balanced approach to many topics of interest to parents, including children’s screen time. Somehow, you’ve just got to trust a grandfatherly professor who works his way through all levels of Spy Fox before writing about computer games. And he isn’t entirely opposed to them. Elkind offers insights into how to choose age-appropriate screen media. He explains why it’s important to remain aware of your child’s individual reactions to media and set common-sense time limits. But, computer games for babies and toddlers? Don’t waste your dollars--or your baby’s time. Elkind makes a strong case for the possible cognitive, physical and even emotional risks involved for infants.

Parents who are considering preschool for their child will find Chapter Nine of particular interest. In “Schooling with Heart, Mind, and Body,” Elkind deftly explores research that compares play-based early childhood programs to academically oriented ones. Play-based preschools not only support future school success, but as Elkind notes, “…children who attended the academic program demonstrated higher levels of test anxiety, were less creative, and had more negative attitudes toward school.”

Entirely readable, often amusing, this book helps demystify the connections between research and child’s play.

Reviewed by Sally Nurss, M.Ed.