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Will five days at kindy leave enough time for kids to play?

Will five days at kindy leave enough time for kids to play?

Today’s announcement by the State Government of a trial for full-time kindergarten poses some interesting questions.

In WA, children as young as three begin their education journey via five days per fortnight at kindy – a huge change from being at home with parents or caregivers that takes plenty of adjustment.

At this age, most children are still developing the social, emotional, and cognitive skills needed to handle a full day of school, and now we are considering doubling their school attendance!

While this initiative will benefit parents struggling with the rising cost of daycare, what cost will it have for our children?

Serious consideration needs to be given to:

·         Child readiness – many may find it overwhelming, whereas others may thrive with the structure

·         Educational benefits – will it enhance their literacy, numeracy and social skills?

·         Flexibility – will there be options for parents to send their children to kindy part time or full time and how will this be managed at a school level?

·         Social and emotional development – how will parents know if their child is ready for full time schooling so young and what supports will be in place to help them make that decision?

Will this initiative put children who are at risk of falling behind, even further behind their peers if their parents choose not to send them to full-time kindy?

Are we creating a gap between the developmental and academic skills of three to four-year-olds if some attend part time, or not at, all while others attend full time?

What impact will this have on teachers? Will they be adequately resourced to manage the extra workload? Significant investment will be needed in the future if the trial proves successful.

Another important consideration is whether the curriculum for kindy students is play-based.

Evidence shows that both structured and non-structured play provide children and young people with the opportunity to develop their motor skills, creativity and independence, all of which contribute to enhanced wellbeing and resilience.

Leading WA early childhood advocacy organisations and teachers have expressed serious concerns that children’s right to play—both as a recreational pursuit and as part of play-based learning at school—has significantly eroded.

Since 2017, these groups have united in calling for the State government to lead a WA Play Strategy campaign to raise the status of play and support the community’s understanding of how important it is in the lives of children and young people. The initiative gained widespread community support, including backing from more than 10,000 Western Australians, and 150 associations and organisations.

A survey conducted by the State School Teachers' Union of WA in 2018 showed that while 90 per cent of early childhood teachers believe it is essential to include play-based learning in early childhood environments, 70 per cent experienced barriers in implementing strategies for children to learn through play.

Play is a fundamental component of a child’s growth, influencing their physical, emotional and social development. It is a critical outlet for self-expression and stress relief, for children to learn to navigate their emotions and develop interpersonal skills.

Incorporating play into daily routines should be a priority for parents and educators and policymakers.

A WA Play Strategy will deliver wide-reaching benefits for children and young people ensuring sufficient play opportunities, no matter who they are or where they live. Play Matters Collective has developed a WA Play Charter to provide a unified language on play and hopes by valuing and encouraging play, we can nurture a generation of healthier, happier and well-rounded individuals.

The importance of play in a child's development cannot be overstated – it is vital for their growth and wellbeing. Will our children get enough play time if they are attending school five days per week from such a young age?

Jacqueline McGowan-Jones is the WA Commissioner for Children and Young People and Patron of Play Matters Collective.