Month: September 2010

We should all hope for a beautiful fall day in New York City on October 3^rdwhen Play for Tomorrow, the consortium of educators, authors and business leaders formed last year kicks off what it terms a new national movement dedicated to play-based learning with its “Ultimate Block Party” in New York City’s Central Park. The group’s co-founder, Kathy Hirsh-Pasek (Temple University), and her collaborators, not least of which is the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, have put together what promises to be a spectacular event that’s sure to draw lots of media attention to the issue of play-based learning. Among the luminaries involved in the event as spokespersons are none other than Laurie Tisch, president of the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund, bestselling children’s book author, Craig Hatkoff, and actress and mother of three, Sarah Jessica Parker.

Please visit National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) for the complete blog post.

Perhaps because the Perry Preschool study is cited so often to demonstrate the long-term benefits of preschool, it seems the landmark study is often criticized – or at least its flaws underscored in an attempt to discredit its findings as relevant to today’s world. This week I decided to address the validity of some of the criticisms I hear most often. At the same time I add a word of caution about relying too much on this (or any) single study.

Please visit National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) for the complete blog post.