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Three to six-year-old Bella students LOVE the new fenced-in playground right outside their classroom door! They meet on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9:00-3:00.
Bella's preschool program is passionate about play! We believe it is "best-practice" for children as they grow and develop. Dr. Peter Gray, an expert on the benefits of play, lists five benefits of play in his 2011 article in The Atlantic:
1. Play gives children a chance to find and develop a connection to their own self-identified and self-guided interests.
2. It is through play that children first learn how to make decisions, solve problems, exert self control, and follow rules.
3. Children learn to handle their emotions, including anger and fear, during play.
4. Play helps children make friends and learn to get along with each other as equals.
5. Most importantly, play is a source of happiness.
Crucial areas of development all arise from play, but naturally, our children have a different viewpoint of the process. From the mother of one of our preschool students:
Josie took her stuffed dragon, Elliott, to school with her for the first time this morning. Before they left, as she held Elliott in her car seat, she spoke in a deep voice as if she was the stuffed animal, "What is it like at school? I feel worried because I've never been there before." "Good question," Josie said, and then she paused thoughtfully. "You don't have to worry, Elliott. School is like a beautiful rainbow on a summer day without any rain." With her words and a kiss from her mom, Elliot and Josie were off to Bella--where I knew they would both have a warm and colorful day.
Bella's preschool program is passionate about play! We believe it is "best-practice" for children as they grow and develop. Dr. Peter Gray, an expert on the benefits of play, lists five benefits of play in his 2011 article in The Atlantic:
1. Play gives children a chance to find and develop a connection to their own self-identified and self-guided interests.
2. It is through play that children first learn how to make decisions, solve problems, exert self control, and follow rules.
3. Children learn to handle their emotions, including anger and fear, during play.
4. Play helps children make friends and learn to get along with each other as equals.
5. Most importantly, play is a source of happiness.
Crucial areas of development all arise from play, but naturally, our children have a different viewpoint of the process. From the mother of one of our preschool students:
Josie took her stuffed dragon, Elliott, to school with her for the first time this morning. Before they left, as she held Elliott in her car seat, she spoke in a deep voice as if she was the stuffed animal, "What is it like at school? I feel worried because I've never been there before." "Good question," Josie said, and then she paused thoughtfully. "You don't have to worry, Elliott. School is like a beautiful rainbow on a summer day without any rain." With her words and a kiss from her mom, Elliot and Josie were off to Bella--where I knew they would both have a warm and colorful day.