Call to Action
Is Your Preschooler Playing Enough at School?
by Rae Pica
March 4, 2009
There are so many choices in preschools today, it's no wonder that parents are overwhelmed when making decisions about where to send their children.
In brief, the preschool you choose should be one that respects children’s intellectual, social/emotional, and physical needs. This describes a traditional, play-based preschool, as opposed to the academic-oriented education being touted – and sought after – in today’s superkid climate. So, when you visit ...
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Rae Pica is a children’s physical activity specialist and the author of A Running Start: How Play, Physical Activity, and Free Time Create a Successful Child (Da Capo Press, 2006) and Great Games for Young Children (Gryphon House, 2006). She has shared her expertise with such clients as the Sesame Street Research Department, the Centers for Disease Control, Gymboree Play & Music, and the President’s Council on Physical Fitness & Sports. She is also co-creator and host of "Body, Mind and Child," a radio program in which she interviews experts in the fields of early childhood education, child development, the neurosciences, and more. Listen at www.bodymindandchild.com.
Column Archive
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Encourage Skywriting
by Rae Pica
December 10, 2008, 12:00 amLetter and number recognition are essential to success in literacy and math. But simply recognizing letters and numbers and saying them by rote is no fun. But pretending to write in the air is fun, and when there is no permanent product children feel a lot less pressure and are a lot more willing to take risks. Read More
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What's a Fitness Lifestyle?
by Rae Pica
December 3, 2008, 12:00 amIf your child is to derive the benefits of physical fitness, then physical activity must be habitual and lifelong. Moving should be as routine as brushing teeth and bathing. Read More
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Does Your Child Have Recess?
by Rae Pica
November 26, 2008, 12:00 amDid you know that many elementary schools - an estimated 40% - have eliminated recess from the daily schedule? And that some elementary schools are now being built without playgrounds? Here are some of the reasons why this is a really bad idea: Read More
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More on Introducing Sports Skills
by Rae Pica
November 19, 2008, 12:00 amThere's no need to worry if your child doesn't get a "jump start." Studies conducted with twins have demonstrated that even when one child is trained to perform a skill at an early age, in the end there's no difference in how the children perform. As a parent, you also have to consider the frustration factor involved for your child when trying to perform a skill ahead of the developmental curve. The first step in preparing your little one for sports, most of which involve an object, is to help her begin to be comfortable manipulating an object. Read More
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Introducing Sports-Related Skills
by Rae Pica
November 12, 2008, 12:00 amSports are a very big deal these days. We've come to equate sports with success, which is why many parents are enrolling their little ones in sports programs so soon after the diapers come off! It's also why many parents are anxious to have their little ones practice such sports-related skills as throwing and catching. But these skills, called manipulative skills because they involve the manipulation of an object, are especially challenging for young children, precisely because there's an object involved. Read More
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Choosing Children's Games
by Rae Pica
November 5, 2008, 12:00 amHere's a modified version of Hot Potato that instead of eliminating children reinforces the concept of around, teaches sequencing, provides an opportunity for children to practice tossing and catching, and creates feelings of belonging! Read More
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All About Opposites
by Rae Pica
October 29, 2008, 12:00 amAs with so many other concepts, children are more likely to grasp the meaning of opposites by exploring opposites with their bodies! These activities give them that chance. Read More
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Old-Fashioned Children's Games Have Much to Offer
by Rae Pica
October 22, 2008, 12:00 amTo an adult, Ring Around the Rosie and London Bridge Is Falling Down may seem to be simple musical games that keep children occupied and happy. But they actually have much to teach children! Read More
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Take a Child Outside
by Rae Pica
October 15, 2008, 12:00 amChildren need to get outdoors on a regular basis, and autumn is the perfect time for it. Following are some games just the two of you can play if there are no other children available. Read More
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Foster Self-Regulation Skills with Games
by Rae Pica
September 24, 2008, 12:00 amIndividuals with good self-regulation skills possess discipline, self-control, and impulse control. Unfortunately, self-regulation skills are diminishing among young children, with today's five-year-olds acting at the level of three-year-olds and seven-year-olds just barely approximating the level of the five-year-olds of past decades. What's to be done? Read More
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