Thursday, February 18, 2016

It's Not Just 'Child's Play'!

Bella Natura believes that children actively construct their understanding of the world through play and inquiry.  We credit young children with having natural curiosity and intrinsic motivation to learn as they observe, investigate, experiment, dialogue with other children and adults…and play with abandon.

Those qualities do not have to disappear when a child enters “formal” education.  Perhaps the motivation and natural love of learning wane as children are compressed into a standardized system of education that is ill-fitted to their development.  Dr. David Elkind addresses this in his book, The Power of Play, saying, “Play is not a luxury but rather a crucial dynamic of healthy physical, intellectual, and social-emotional development at all age levels.”
At Bella Natura, we are passionate about our play!  Our curriculum emerges from the ideas and interests of the children--often initiated through play.  We believe that every child can benefit from "the power of play". 


Seth (9) and Elijah (11)
Absorbed in Play at a Hands-On Museum Exhibit
They had both been reading The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

"For Narnia!"