Play + Academics in Early Education

The longstanding argument between proponents of play versus academics in early education implies an either/or approach. As in so many other aspects of life, the best answers are often not black or white, but somewhere in-between. Jill Harkins’ column, Academic vs. play-based preschool debate fading in favor of intellectual discovery, suggests it would be nice if we could all agree that preschoolers shouldn’t only be lectured or only play endlessly without structure, but instead have the opportunity to enjoy a more balanced, enriched early childhood experience.