Workbooks, worksheets, and coloring books, on the
other hand, present an adult's abstract ideas and expectations. They are
neither real nor active ways for children to learn about the world around
them. They leave no room for creative thinking. To be honest, children
don't learn much through such passive and impersonal activities. What they
do learn may not be what we want them to learn, and their creativity may
be inhibited when they try to duplicate an adult's art.
What should children
learn?
Promoters of worksheets, workbooks, and coloring
books claim that their products help children improve their small muscle
coordination and identify symbols. Children will color in the space
between their own drawing or writing, a much more meaningful way to
develop better small muscle coordination.
Constance Kamii, well-known for her research on
children's learning, points out that "motor coordination and the learning
of conventional signs (letters and numbers) are surface skills that have
little to do with the intellectual development that enables children to
become able to read and to do arithmetic."
Children who use worksheets, workbooks, or coloring
books "may learn to follow directions, blindly obey authority, to turn off
their thinking, and to do only what they're told," according to Carol
Seefeldt, a renowned early childhood educator.
Most of us agree that we want children to learn with
enthusiasm, control themselves, make good decisions, communicate with
others, and be able to predict what will happen if…? Children who think
for themselves enjoy new challenges. These children have a strong
foundation for becoming productive and happy adults.
"Asking children to complete worksheets may be a
form of stealing" according to Carol Seefeldt. "Every time children are
asked to fill in a worksheet they are being robbed of opportunities to
think and learn by doing; experience individualization of instruction;
learn to cooperate."
What activities are
better?
Whatever your budget and no matter how limited your
time, you can find an abundance of items and activities for both free and
planned play that will be better learning investments for children…unit
blocks, large sheets of plain paper, growing animals or plants, puzzles,
sand, fingerplays, water, picture books, trees to climb, games, songs,
healthy foods to cook and eat, woodworking, puppets, dress-up clothes…
Children sitting quietly with pencils or crayons in
their hands and a worksheet on the table before them are probably NOT
learning anything they don't already know. Worksheets, workbooks, and
coloring books are a waste of time, money and energy-yours and the
children's!!
