🌟 Protecting Childhood: The Power of Play and Connection 🌟
We’re always thinking about how to help our children grow up happy and resilient. “The Anxious Generation,” author @jonathanhaidt, reminds us of a simple but powerful truth: the most important things for our young learners are play and real-world connection.
Children need:
🧠 Lots of Unstructured Play: This is how children naturally learn to solve problems, be creative, and understand others. It is their most important work!
🌳 Real-World Exploration: Hands-on experiences, like playing outside and having face-to-face conversations, are vital for building strong brains and emotional skills.
⏳ Focused Attention: Helping children learn to focus without constant digital distractions is crucial for their future learning and well-being.
At Hillside, we champion these ideas every day through our play-based learning, outdoor adventures, and by helping children build friendships through direct interaction.
How You Can Help at Home:
✅ Prioritise Play: Make time for open-ended, child-led play, both indoors and outdoors.
✅ Limit Screen Time: For young (and old) children, less is more. When screens are used, we encourage you to watch and interact with your child.
✅ Foster Real Connections: Encourage playdates and family activities that allow your child to explore the world around them.
✅ Create “Device-Free” Times: Simple habits, like putting phones away during mealtimes (for adults too!), can make a big difference in family connection.
By working together to protect this precious time of childhood, we help our children become resilient, happy, and engaged learners.
#HSK #esfhillside #EarlyYears #PlayBasedLearning #ChildDevelopment #TheAnxiousGeneration
