"Over-parenting's faulty logic"
Madeline Levine, SF Gate, August 10, 2012

"Counterintuitive as it seems, the very things we're doing to secure our children's futures can end up compromising them. Pushing and over-scheduling prevent them from becoming competent adults capable of the resilience, perseverance, motivation and grit that business leaders say they'll need to compete in tomorrow's workforce. Just as importantly, it interferes with the ability to cultivate healthy relationships and to feel that life is meaningful.

"Many parents have significant misunderstandings about how children learn and what circumstances are likely to drive success in them. Our (culturally sanctioned) faulty thinking is pushing us to do, in many cases, the exact opposite of what kids need to thrive.
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"Studies show that kids enrolled in academic-based preschools actually tend to fall behind their peers who attend play-based preschools by the fourth grade.
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"Self-directed play is the work of childhood. It's a classroom in which kids develop a whole set of skills that really matter in life. Consider what happens in a simple game of chase: Kids must agree on the game and cooperate with each other. They must determine who will be the leader, who will be the follower and when it's time to renegotiate. When we fill their days with classes, practices and games, there's just no time left for learning these critical lessons.

"Most experts agree that kids should have twice as much unstructured free time as structured playtime. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends at least 60 minutes a day. If they can get that 60 minutes outdoors - climbing trees, chasing fireflies or playing baseball in an empty lot - so much the better."

Education Isn’t a Game, But Should It Be?
Lauren Landry, Bostinno, July 24, 2012

"What you’ll sometimes hear teachers and developers say is that they want children to be learning without even realizing it. And while Klopfer admits the idea sounds like a good one, the larger goal should be to help students shake their fear of learning and have them realize education can be fun. "

"'Importance of Being Playful' conference at UC"
Stephanie M. Lee, SF Gate, Saturday, May 26, 2012

"Playing, whether doing the Charleston, kicking a soccer ball or even curling up with a good book, is healthy for kids and adults alike. It yields both physical and mental health benefits, say experts such as Stuart Brown, a Carmel Valley psychiatrist and a leading expert in the field of play.

"Play's opposite is not work, but depression, he said.

"There are consequences in adulthood when we don't engage in getting into a state of play," Brown said. "That means we're less flexible, less adaptive, less resilient and poorer stress managers."

Why Bother With Recess?
Cynthia A. Elder, Michael C. Obel-Omia; Ed Week, online May 8, 2012 / print May 9, 2012

"Ironically, in an effort to prepare our students for these future challenges, schools have made decisions that may weaken our children's social, emotional, intellectual, and physical health, while crippling their ability to think creatively, gain self-confidence, and work collaboratively.

"As of 2009, 30 percent of the nation's elementary schools had done away with recess altogether. Of those that maintained recess, 40 percent had cut it back significantly. If current trends continue, recess may soon be a thing of the past for our students."

"Wired & Unplugged Ways to Encourage Summer Learning"
Jason Koebler, US News, July 1, 2011

"Students can forget as much as two months' worth of math and reading instruction over the summer, according to some reports. To keep their children on track, many parents have enrolled them in summer learning programs. But for students who are unable to attend one, playing certain video games or practicing skills around the house can help.

""People don't often think about games as a way to exercise the brain," says Patrick Supanc, president of College and Career Readiness at textbook publisher Pearson. "But even mainstream games have some really important elements in them that help students develop important skills.""

The Case For Play: How a handful of researchers are trying to save childhood
by Tom Bartlett, The Chronicle of Higher Education
"The goal was to "celebrate the science of play" and to push back against the notion that education happens only when students are seated at their desks, staring at chalkboards, and scribbling furiously in their notebooks."

Middle-School Friends Are Critical For Future Success
RICK NAUERT PHD, Psych Central, January 13, 2011

"Hanging out with the right group of friends is especially important as children transition from elementary to middle school.

"University of Oregon psychologists say the new friendships may directly influence a teenager’s potential academic success or future challenges in high school and beyond.

"A new study, appearing in the February issue of the Journal of Early Adolescence, found that boys and girls whose friends are socially active in ways where rules are respected do better in their classroom work.

"Having friends who engage in problem behavior, in contrast, is related to a decrease in their grades.

"Having pro-social friends and staying away from deviant peers proved more effective for academic payoffs than simply being friends with high-achieving peers."