Editorial
School Library Media Activities Monthly/Volume XXV, Number 9/May 2009
Value of Play
By Deborah Detenbeck Levitov
Alliance for Childhood (http://www.allianceforchildhood.org) released a recent report, "Kindergarten Playtime Disappears, Raising Alarm on Children's Learning and Health." It states, "New studies show play losing out to formal lessons and tests, even though multiple benefits of imaginative play are well documented— (College Park, MD, March 20, 2009). It stresses, "…the importance of play nurtures children's innate love of learning, and supports teachers' own capacities for creativity, autonomy, and integrity."
This report provides a perfect opportunity for library media specialists to help kindergarten teachers promote early literacy while allowing children to play, imagine, and create. Share the report with your administrator and kindergarten teachers, and then begin identifying literature resources and professional materials that will offer ideas that support play.
Active Learning through Drama, Podcasting, and Puppetry (Libraries Unlimited, 2007) by SLMAM's blogger, Kristin Fontichiaro, is an excellent resource for teachers and library media specialists seeking creative ideas for literacy and dramatization. Also available is Handmade Tales: Stories to Make and Take (Libraries Unlimited, 2008) by Dianne de Las Casas. Part I "String Stories" and Part V "Hand Stories" offer the ideal way to get the youngest students actively involved in telling stories with props. These can serve as a starting point for many other professional resources that will help promote creativity and play.
Of course, nursery rhymes, fairy tales, and folk tales are ideal for reenactment, allowing kindergartners to create their own costumes and act out favorite stories. Have available a surplus of books with accompanying puppets so kindergartners can act out and retell well-loved stories. Make sure the library media center serves as a resource that encourages the importance of play. Perhaps others, in addition to kindergartners, will be caught joining in the fun.