I spent the day in my sons pre kindergarten class yesterday. it was interesting. These kids have not been in class a full week yet and already know ” 1 2 3, eyes on me” means stop whatever you are doing and look at teacher. they Know that “criss cross apple sauce, apples in a basket” mean sit on the rug, legs crossed hands in your lap”

But the most amusing was the “class” right after Book Look time. (Book look is when the kids sit on the rug and look at books) After book look is what the kids think is the best class. It’s called “Center Play”. to the kids, Center Play is when they play with the cars (sharing, playing quietly) or go to a table to play with cubes (geometry, fine motor skills, imagination) or head to the discovery table where the leaves, pine cones, sticks, rocks and magnifying glasses lay ( science) the kids can also use the glue, scissors and crayons to draw pictures and glue leaves to the picture (art, fine motor skills). Then there is the “work shop center” where the kids have wooden tools and blocks to play with (imagination, more fine motor skills, balancing, sharing).

I think it is so amusing that the Center Play, which to many might just look like a free time activity, is what will teach these kids the most. Sure they like to be read stories, and dress weather bear appropriately, they like going on nature walks and having recess time, but center time? That’s where the real education is at!