Parents' group makes child's play a learning experience
Excerpts:
CEDAR LAKE, Ind. -- To participating children, the Parents as Teachers Play Group is like an amusement park. It's a vast space of fun, from the basketball hoop to various play sets, to things they can climb. The free, six-week program is designed for children up to age 5, and is conducted at Lincoln Elementary School weekly each semester of the school year. It's open to any child living in the Hanover Township area. ... The concept was developed in the 1970s when Missouri educators noticed that children were beginning kindergarten at various stages of learning readiness. For the same reason, Hanover schools adopted the program about eight years ago. Play Group is another way to further promote the idea of learning readiness. It helps children get used to a school setting and interacting with others in an organized environment. ... Kathy Salata's son, John, 3, of Cedar Lake has attended Play Group for more than two years. He particularly enjoys playing with the basketball hoop. Salata said the program is beneficial. "It's been awesome; it's been really good for him," she said. "The socialization and just getting out and away from me -- so I can actually stand back and watch him -- because I'm at home with him all the time. "He was clingy for awhile; he's running all over the place now."
CEDAR LAKE, Ind. -- To participating children, the Parents as Teachers Play Group is like an amusement park.
It's a vast space of fun, from the basketball hoop to various play sets, to things they can climb.
The free, six-week program is designed for children up to age 5, and is conducted at Lincoln Elementary School weekly each semester of the school year.
It's open to any child living in the Hanover Township area.
...
The concept was developed in the 1970s when Missouri educators noticed that children were beginning kindergarten at various stages of learning readiness. For the same reason, Hanover schools adopted the program about eight years ago.
Play Group is another way to further promote the idea of learning readiness.
It helps children get used to a school setting and interacting with others in an organized environment.
Kathy Salata's son, John, 3, of Cedar Lake has attended Play Group for more than two years. He particularly enjoys playing with the basketball hoop.
Salata said the program is beneficial.
"It's been awesome; it's been really good for him," she said. "The socialization and just getting out and away from me -- so I can actually stand back and watch him -- because I'm at home with him all the time.
"He was clingy for awhile; he's running all over the place now."
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