We hope that you and your family enjoy this opportunity to engage in activities that link the joy of playing to the joy of learning.
Young children learn the essential skills they will need to become successful as adults through play! Building block towers develops skills in architecture and engineering. Finger painting develops an understanding of our senses, color and art. Playing hop-scotch develops number recognition and early math skills. Playing tag develops social and team development skills. Playing outdoors develops an understanding of science and nature.
Unfortunately young children’s play time is vanishing. Studies and statistics in the United States have been mounting and it is clear we are facing a national crisis. Children spend far too much time in front of a screen — on average 7 hours 38 minutes a day, according to a survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation. In the last two decades kids have lost eight hours of free play a week and 3000 US schools have eliminated recess. With an increased focus on academic study and test preparation, starting in kindergarten, children today do not get valuable play time to feed their imagination.
Today’s science shows that children develop imagination, critical thinking skills and crucial problem solving skills through play. So today, enjoy the six play areas. Participate in the activities that are carefully designed to experience the real power of fun and games for learning.
Worcester Day of Play Family Festival is a project of Edward Street.