Guidelines Seek To Define Role of Academics in Children's Play

By Linda Jacobson

A national association of early-childhood educators issued revised guidelines last week that draw a clearer picture of how academic work can be incorporated into child's play.

Meeting in Dallas for its annual conference, the 100,000-member National Association for the Education of Young Children released a revamped position statement outlining the methods the group believes are best suited for teaching children from birth through age 8.

The statement is designed, in part, to address what NAEYC officials consider to be misinterpretations of their previously published lists of developmentally appropriate and inappropriate practices for programs serving children...