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elleng

(136,630 posts)
4. 'Children are going to class with bodies that are less prepared to learn than ever before.
Wed Jul 9, 2014, 04:24 PM
Jul 2014

A local elementary teacher tells me that at least eight of her twenty-two students have trouble paying attention on a good day. At the same time, children are expected to sit for longer periods of time. In fact, even kindergarteners are being asked to sit for thirty minutes during circle time at some schools.

The problem: children are constantly in an upright position these days. It is rare to find children rolling down hills, climbing trees, and spinning in circles just for fun. Merry-go-rounds and teeter-totters are a thing of the past. Recess times have shortened due to increasing educational demands, and children rarely play outdoors due to parental fears, liability issues, and the hectic schedules of modern-day society. Lets face it: Children are not nearly moving enough, and it is really starting to become a problem. . .

We quickly learned after further testing, that most of the children in the classroom had poor core strength and balance. In fact, we tested a few other classrooms and found that when compared to children from the early 1980s, only one out of twelve children had normal strength and balance. Only one! Oh my goodness, I thought to myself. These children need to move!'

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Where are all the early childhood education geniuses???

Recommendations

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teacher needs to give the kid things to do that play to his strength - moving nt msongs Jul 2014 #1
but that would actually be "teaching," instead of "administering tests" villager Jul 2014 #3
K/R, and I've been saying this for years. NYC_SKP Jul 2014 #2
'Children are going to class with bodies that are less prepared to learn than ever before. elleng Jul 2014 #4
The early childhood experts are summarily ignored by education reformers. QED Jul 2014 #8
but you can't get a profit from kids play LittleGirl Jul 2014 #9
I'm glad I grew up in the days of tree forts and apple wars. NBachers Jul 2014 #20
Because school's closed for summer recess. nt TheBlackAdder Jul 2014 #5
(rim-shot) n2doc Jul 2014 #6
no brainer Cryptoad Jul 2014 #7
THAT ^^ LittleGirl Jul 2014 #10
THAT ^^ X2 TheBlackAdder Jul 2014 #12
We never sat still. Igel Jul 2014 #11
Yes. elleng Jul 2014 #14
And yet, one could make the argument that today's youth iemitsu Jul 2014 #15
When I was in school I had the same problem so they doped me with Ritalin. rickyhall Jul 2014 #13
in my day... unionthug777 Jul 2014 #16
Yes It Was grilled onions Jul 2014 #18
I'm so god damn sick of the medicating of kids IkeRepublican Jul 2014 #17
I know, just from what I had for recess time and what they give kids today glowing Jul 2014 #19
I was that kid maindawg Jul 2014 #21
+1 lunasun Jul 2014 #28
My pediatrician encouraged switching to water TBF Jul 2014 #22
The things that USED to happen in kindergarten were exactly what a child that Squinch Jul 2014 #23
Kids attention spans Dayton L. Kitchens Jul 2014 #24
This is great. LWolf Jul 2014 #25
privatize playground and recess management... mike_c Jul 2014 #26
Children need 10 hours of sleep each day, otherwise some keep up their awareness, by extra activity. DhhD Jul 2014 #27
Message auto-removed Name removed Sep 2014 #29
Post removed Post removed Sep 2014 #30
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