Play is important. These days, we spend more and more time pushing technology earlier and earlier. I was out for dinner the other night, and a little girl was trying to tell her mom about a story she had made up while the mom was trying to speak to other parents. Rather then explain to the child that she must wait to tell her story, she handed the little girl an iphone to play games. Electronic baby-sitting! I just watched a clip of Vivian Gussin Paley describing the importance of imagination. From imagination comes stories, which are pre-cursers to literacy. From imagination comes numbers, which are pre-cursers to mathematics. When you listen to a child and join her imaginary play, you are telling the child that she is important and her thoughts are important. Try to keep this in mind next time you hand over technology when you are trying to have a conversation. Hand over a piece of paper and a pen instead so the child can share her world.
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