«Mrs Weber, what qualities are encouraged in children through play?»

Mrs Weber, why is play so important for development?

Play is the ideal way for young children to learn. By discovering things through play, trying things out for themselves and acting out situations, they learn in passing. Their activities are primarily guided by their interests and the motivation to test and expand their own abilities. Through play, many children can immerse themselves in a self-imposed task or role over a long period of time, maintain a high level of concentration and acquire specific knowledge and skills.

Does this also apply to children of primary school age?

Play changes as the child matures. It becomes more purposeful, rules are established and adhered to during play, it becomes more complex. Let's take Lego bricks as an example: at the beginning, the toddler puts the bricks together somehow and randomly. After one or two years, they build towers that are as big as they are, and at some point they build complex structures according to building instructions. Nevertheless, the basic function remains the same: When it comes to real play, it's not about learning, but about playing itself. Learning happens on the side.

What qualities are encouraged in children of early primary school age through play?

At the end of the 1990s, studies were carried out in Germany in first primary school classes. The results showed that children who were regularly allowed to play freely during lessons, i.e. who were allowed to choose what or what they played with, were stronger in so-called learning support processes such as perseverance, concentration or creativity than children in classes who were not allowed to do so - without having deficits in their subject knowledge.

Now you get the impression that over the years, free play takes a back seat in favour of technical learning. Is that also your experience?

If you look at developments over the last ten years, fortunately not. There is more play equipment in the classrooms than there used to be. But it's true: The opportunities for children to learn purposefully and consciously increase at this age - and are taken into account in the curriculum. Play retains its importance, but is increasingly supplemented by targeted learning.

It is also more time-consuming for teachers to organise lessons in such a way that children acquire the learning content through play.

And it is more difficult to observe the learning steps and successes. But it's worth it! A very abrupt change from predominantly self-chosen play as in kindergarten to goal-orientated, dictated learning is a very big change. Children have a greater need for activity in the first few months at school, as they have to sit more and be more attentive than in kindergarten. They want to be outside and play freely. On the other hand, a «school-ready» child is generally able to engage with the demands of everyday school life. Learning is a need. The better the school caters to the different learning paths and prerequisites of the children, the easier the transition will be for the children. Their motivation to learn remains or even increases.

How important is it that parents continue to let their children play freely in the afternoons?

Very important. Parents and teachers must develop the awareness that children are not doing nothing when they are playing. Playing is more than just resting and takes time. Duringthis time, children look for meaningful activities on their own initiative and out of their own motivation. This is an achievement that should not be underestimated.

What are suitable games for children aged between six and seven?

These can be very different board games, role-playing games and, above all, movement games , ball games, romping around, skateboarding. It is important that children are not told what to play, but are free to choose.

What do you think of educational games?

Not much. As a rule, it's no longer about playing as such, it degenerates into a means to an end. Children quickly realise this.

And what about computer games?

Such games often fulfil exactly the requirements to keep you absorbed and occupied over a longer period of time. Tension and relaxation are usually in an optimal ratio and the sense of achievement comes very quickly and in large numbers. This is stimulating and satisfying. On the other hand, it is also addictive. That's why computer games are part of it, but on a small and controlled scale.

To what extent is free play taken into account in Curriculum 21?

In the first school cycle, it is still possible to learn and practise certain content through play. However, the repertoire of methods and the basic attitude of the respective teacher are much more important than the curriculum.

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