The Importance Of Playtime

For Children

Housatonic Valley Waldorf School will sponsor a screening of the documentary Where Do the Children Play? at Bethel Cinema Thursday, February 25, at 7 pm.

The documentary is a one-hour examination of how restrictive patterns of sprawl, congestion, and suburban development are impacting children’s mental and physical health and development. The program will also include a lecture by the educator Joan Almon.

“Children’s ability to play is one of the principal criteria of mental health,” said Ms Almon, executive director of the US Alliance for Childhood, a partnership of educators, physicians, parents, and others advocating for social change to improve children’s overall health and well-being.

“Data shows that children who were the most active players in early childhood classes also showed the greatest gains in language development, a key to becoming good readers, and in imagination, which makes all subjects come alive. They are also the least aggressive,” she added.

The event, sponsored by the Housatonic Valley Waldorf School in Newtown, Apple Blossom School in Wilton, and Clover Hill School in Norwalk, is being held to support awareness that creative play is central to early childhood.

“The more children can be absorbed in their play, the more freely and effectively they will take hold of their potentials in the future,” said Ms Almon. “Parents need to understand how to foster this in their children.”

Ms Almon has more than 30 years experience as a Waldorf kindergarten teacher and consultant to Waldorf kindergartens.

A $10 donation at the door is suggested. Bethel Cinema is at 269 Greenwood Avenue, Bethel; 203-364-1113.