How play and learning go hand-in-hand
COURIER LIFE, OCTOBER 25-31, 2019 45
EDUCATION
I’m sure we all know families,
friends, co-workers and
neighbors who have been
touched by the pain caused
by breast cancer. According
to the American Cancer Society,
breast cancer is the most
common cancer in American
women, except for skin cancers.
Currently, the average
risk of a woman in the United
States developing breast cancer
sometime in her life is
about 12 percent. This means
there is a 1 in 8 chance a
woman will develop breast
cancer. It means that one in
eight women who read this
will develop breast cancer.
This also means there is a
7 in 8 chance she will never
have the disease.
Not enough is fully known
on the causes of breast cancer,
but, early detection of the
disease is the key to treating
it. As we pursue new efforts
to target breast cancer and
treatment, I can’t help but
think of our students in the
disciplines of science, technology,
engineering, and
mathematics (STEM). I can’t
help but hope that among
them stands the person who
will help us find a cure for
this disease.
And as we observe National
Breast Cancer Awareness
Month, let’s honor the
women and men who lost
their lives to breast cancer,
and recognize the fighters
and survivors. For these individuals,
let’s reaffirm ourselves
to the work of building
a cancer-free world by raising
awareness to early detection,
medical treatments and funding
for research. Earlier this
month, Kingsborough Community
College took the initiative
to launch a public service
video to bring awareness
about breast cancer.
You can view the
video on YouTube at
bit.ly/KCC-BCA-PSA.
If you haven’t already
done so, you too can make
a difference and spread the
word about mammograms,
get tested, encourage others
to get tested and get involved
in the mission to cure cancer
once and for all.
Dr. Claudia V. Schrader
is president of Kingsborough
Community College located
in beautiful Manhattan
Beach, Brooklyn. In the
college’s Health and STEM
Academy, students can major
in Nursing, Biology, Engineering
and more to help
find a cure. Visit https://
www.kbcc.cuny.edu/Health
SciencesandSTEMAcademy.
html or call 718-368-4600.
EDUCAT I O N PROFI LE
Mission Possible: A Cure for Cancer
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Children are hard-wired
to play. However, busy
schedules, homework,
classes and structured activities
like sports and
dance classes can often get
in the way of allowing kids
to feel free to express that
natural behavior.
While these things are
important, it’s just as important
to recognize that play
has a purpose in a child’s
development and it’s an important
consideration for
parents and educators, says
parenting expert and author
Jessica Joelle Alexander.
“Playing together is a
fundamental cornerstone of
family life for children and
parents alike,” Alexander
says. “But with modern lifestyles
busier than ever and
so much emphasis on formal
education and structured
activities, it can be easy to
forget to make time for it.
Given the positive effects it
has on our well-being and
happiness levels, family
play should be the most important
‘homework’ of all.”
Whether you are planning
the next outing or looking
for an enriching activity,
be mindful of how play
has a key role in shaping
and building young minds.
Here are five benefits of
play and how it fits in with
learning.
It lets kids use their
imagination: Playtime
gives kids some space to
freely explore and decide
for themselves how they’ll
complete a task. Offer kids
playful space to create, and
their innate ability to innovate
can amaze you! Fostering
this spirit of creativity
is crucial - the World Economic
Forum cites creativity
as one of the top three
skills the future workforce
will need for success.
Hands-on, play-based
learning builds connections:
Many adults are concerned
about how technology
is affecting children’s
development. Nearly threequarters
of parents (72 percent)
fear technology is
dampening kids’ ability to
think for themselves. However,
six in 10 say they enjoy
using technology when they
play with their children,
and that digital play brings
the family closer together.
Today’s kids are seamlessly
blending real-world, imaginary
and digital experiences,
what some refer to as
“fluid play.”
That’s where learning
resources like Coding Express
from LEGO® Education
come in. Educators
who leverage the Coding
Express early learning solution
can help their students
learn foundational coding
and other 21st century
skills like collaboration and
problem solving. Coding Express
includes that all-important
playful, hands-on
element that lets kids explore
and create through the
child-directed app. “There’s
no better time than today to
ensure the youngest learners
also have access to a
relevant, fun and engaging
way to learn these foundational
skills, and to develop
21st century skills we know
will prepare them for a lifetime
of successful learning”
notes Esben Stærk Jørgensen,
LEGO® Education
president.
Helps children develop
essential life skills: What
is the ultimate purpose of
play? Just observe what
children do and say, and it’s
clear it’s not all about escapism.
Playtime helps kids understand
how things work
in the world and how to interact
with each other.
When you think of it
in those terms, play gives
kids a sense of mastery
and boosts confidence, all
the while enhancing their
problem-solving abilities,
communication skills and
creativity, among other essential
life skills.
Now that you know the
important role hands-on,
playful learning has in
shaping and developing
young minds, discover more
about LEGO® Education’s
Coding Express and more of
its hands-on LEGO® learning
portfolio at LEGOEducation.
com/HandsOn.
— BPT
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