THE IMPORTANCE OF CHILDREN'S PLAY儿童玩耍的重要性Brick by brick, six-year-old Alice is building a magical kingdom. Imagining fairy-tale turrets and fire-breathing dragons, wicked witches and gallant heroes, she's creating an enchanting world. Although she isn't aware of it, this fantasy is helping her take her first steps towards her capacity for creativity and so it will have important repercussions in her adult life.But we live in changing times, and there is a worldwide decline in play.The opportunities for free play, which people experienced almost every day of their childhood two decades ago, are becoming increasingly scarce. Outdoor play is curtailed by perceptions of risk to do with traffic, as well as parents' increased wish to protect their children from being the victims of crime, and by the emphasis on 'earlier is better' which is leading to greater competition in academic learning and schools.Some studies conducted with toddlers and young preschoolers found that children with greater self-control solved problems more quickly when exploring an unfamiliar set-up requiring scientific reasoning. This sort of evidence supports that giving children the chance to play will make them more successful problem-solvers in the long run.If playful experiences do facilitate this aspect of development, say the researchers, it could be extremely significant for educational practices, because the ability to self-regulate has been shown to be a key predictor of academic performance.Somehow the importance of play has been lost in recent decades. It's regarded as something trivial, or even as something negative that contrasts with "work". Let's not lose sight of its benefits, and the fundamental contributions it makes to human achievements in the arts, sciences and technology. Let's make sure children have a rich diet of play experiences.Virtually every child, the world over, plays. The drive to play is so intense that children will do so in any circumstance s, for instance when they have no real toys, or when parents do not actively encourage the behavior. In the eyes of a young child, running, pretending, and building are fun. Researchers and educators know that these playful activities benefit the development of the whole child across social, cognitive, physical, and emotional domains.Through play, children learn to regulate their behavior, lay the foundations for later learning in science and mathematics, figure out the complex negotiations of social relationships, build a repertoire of creative problem-solving skills, and so much more. There is also an important role for adults in guiding children through playful learning opportunities.Play is pleasurable: Children must enjoy the activity or it is not play. It is intrinsically motivated: Children engage in play simply for the satisfaction the behavior itself brings. It has no extrinsically motivated function or goal. Play is process oriented: When children play, the means are more important than the ends. It is freely chosen, spontaneous and voluntary. If a child is pressured, they will likely not think of the activity as play. Play i s actively engaged: Players must be physically and/or mentally involved in the activity. Play is non-literal. It involves make-believe.运动对孩子的作用(政府应该支持):Playing games, besides being fun, helps a child to stay physically fit. Usually small children are energetic, so playing sports helps put energy to good use; so much so, any investment on the part of the government in this respect is worthwhile. Because physical exercise builds the healthy body, we should have a special budget to upgrade our kids' physical fitness. If not, we will be raising an obese and unfit generation. That is to say, engaging i n different kinds of sporting activities is essential to a child's physical development in different ways, all translating into overall physical benefits. For example, games that involve running, kicking or throwing a ball strengthen the arms and legs, and swimming provides a full body workout, and so on.Researchers say that children who play sports tend to be in a mentally happier state of mind than those who do not. And probably there is no match to that kind of mental happiness which this brings. The same reports explain that sports are a form of exercise that generates what is called 'happiness molecules' in the body, thus restoring the mental health by easing stress and releasing emotions. In view of this, public facilities like sports parks should be timely built and sufficiently funded at as many key destinations as possible iin order to ensure the younger generation's mental health. To put it in another way, by strengthening their muscles and bones for a sound body, children could also benefit greatly from playingsports for a positive mind. With that positive mentality, it is very likely that those kids who regularly play sports also fare well in academics at school.Although it is not necessary to make every child a sport hero or a professional football star for the next generation, it must be a country's responsibility to create a sporting environment for their physical and mental wellbeing. However important it is to foster national pride and unity through preparing our competitors in international events, we cannot afford not to motivate our kids to play sports here and now. So, should strictly money be the issue, some of today's children who are good enough in sports can win Olympic medals, or even play for money.电脑游戏对孩子的影响(利和弊) :Many people, and children in particular, enjoy playing computer games. While l accept that these games can sometimes have a positive effect on the user, I believe that they are more likely to have a harmful impact.On the one hand, video games can be both entertaining and educational. Users, or gamers, are transported into virtual worlds which are often more exciting and engaging than real-life pastimes. From an educational perspective, these games encourage imagination and creativity, as well as concentration, logical thinking and problem solving,all of which are useful skills outside the gaming context. Furthermore, it has been shown that computer simulation games can improve users' motor skills and help to prepare them for real-world tasks, such as flying a plane.However, I would argue that these benefits are outweighed by the drawbacks. Gaming can be highly addictive because users are constantly given scores, new targets and frequent rewards to keep them playing. Many children now spend hours each day trying to progress through the levels of a game or to get a higher score than their friends. This type of addiction can have effects ranging from lack of sleep to problems at school, when homework is sacrificed for a few more hours on the computer or console. The rise in obesity in recent years has also been linked in part to the sedentary lifestyle and lack of exercise that often accompany gaming addiction.In conclusion, it seems to me that the potential dangers of video games are more significant than the possible benefits.早教的作用:In many places today, children start primary school at around the age of six or seven. However, because it is more likely now that both parents work, there is little opportunity for children to stay in their own home up to that age. Instead, they will probably go to a nursery school when they are much younger. While some people think this may be damaging to a child’s development, or to a child’s relationship with his or her parents, in fact there are many advantages to having school experience at a young age.Firstly, a child will learn to interact with a lot of different people and some children learn to communicate very early because of this. They are generally more confident and independent than children who stay at home with their parents and who are not used to strangers or new situations. Such children find their first day at school at the age of six very frightening and this may have a negative effect on how they learn.Another advantage of going to school at an early age is that children develop faster socially. They make friends and learn how to get on with other children of a similar age. This is often not possible at home because they are the only child, or because their brothers or sisters are older or younger.So overall, I believe that, attending school from a young age is good for most children. They still spend plenty of time at home with their parents, so they can benefit from both environments.学生是否要做义工:Many young people work on a volunteer basis, and this can only be beneficial for both the individual and society as a whole. However, I do not agree that we should therefore force all teenagers to do unpaid work.Most young people are already under enough pressure with their studies, without being given the added responsibility of working in their spare time. School is just as demanding as a full-time job, and teachers expect their students to do homework and exam revision on top of attending lessons every day. When young people do have some free time, we should encourage them to enjoy it with their friends or to spend it doing sports and other leisure activities. They have many years of work ahead of them when they finish their studies.At the same time, I do not believe that society has anything to gain from obliging young people to do unpaid work. In fact, I would argue that it goes against the values of a free and fair society to force a group of people to do something against their will. Doing this can only lead to resentment amongst young people, who would feel that they were being used, and parents, who would not want to be told how to raise their children. Currently, nobody is forced to volunteer, and this is surely the best system.In conclusion, teenagers may choose to work for free and help others, but in my opinion we should not make this compulsory.空档年(gap year)的作用It is quite common these days for young people in many countries to have a break from studying after graduating from high school. The trend is not restricted to rich students who choose to work and become economically independent for a period of time.The reasons for this trend may involve the recognition that a young adult who passes directly from school to university is rather restricted in terms of general knowledge and experience of the world.By contrast, those who have spent some time earning a living or travelling to other places, have a broader view of life and better personal resources to draw on. They tend to be more independent, which is a very important factor in academic study and research, as well as giving them an advantage in terms of coping with the challenges of student life.However, there are certainly dangers in taking time off at that important age. Young adults may end up never returning to their studies or finding it difficult to readapt to an academic environment. They may think that it is better to continue in a particular job, or to do something completely different from a university course. But overall, I think this is less likely today, when academic qualifications are essential for getting a reasonable career.My view is that young people should be encouraged to broaden their horizons. That is the best way for them to get a clear perspective of what they are hoping to do with their lives and why. Students with such a perspective are usually the most effective and motivated ones and taking a year off may be the best way to gain this.电脑对孩子的好坏:I tend to agree that young children can be negatively affected by too much time spent on the computer every day. This is partly because sitting in front of a screen for too long can be damaging to both the eyes and the physical posture of a young child, regardless of what they are using the computer for.However, the main concern is about the type of computer activities that attract children. These are often electronic games that tend to be very intense and rather violent. The player is usuallyt he ‘hero’ of the game and too much exposure can encourage children to be self-centered and insensitive to others.Even when children use a computer for other purposes, such as getting information or emailing friends, it is no substitute for human interaction. Spending time with other children and sharing non-virtual experiences is and important part of a child’s development that cannot be provided by a computer.In spite of this, the obvious benefits of computer skills for young children cannot be denied. Their adult world will be changing constantly in terms of technology and the Internet is the key to all the knowledge and information available in the world today. Therefore, it is important thatchildren learn at an early age to use the equipment enthusiastically and with confidence, as they will need these skills throughout their studies and working lives.I think the main point is to make sure that young children do not overuse computers. Parents must ensure that their children learn to enjoy other kinds of activity and not simply sit at home, learning to live in a virtual world.去上大学还是直接工作:When they finish school, teenagers face the dilemma of whether to get a job or continue their education. While there are some benefits to getting a job straight after school, I would argue that it is better to go to college or university. The option to start work straight after school is attractive for several reasons.Many young people want to start earning money as soon as possible. In this way, they can become independent, and they will be able to afford their own house or start a family. In terms of their career, young people who decide to find work, rather than continue their studies, may progress more quickly. They will have the chance to gain real experience and learn practical skills related to their chosen profession. This may lead to promotions and a successful career.On the other hand, I believe that it is more beneficial for students to continue their studies. Firstly, academic qualifications are required in many professions. For example, it is impossible to become a doctor, teacher or lawyer without having the relevant degree. As a result, university graduates have access to more and better job opportunities, and they tend to earn higher salaries than those with fewer qualifications. Secondly, the job market is becoming increasingly competitive, and sometimes there are hundreds of applicants for one position in a company. Young people who do not have qualifications from a university or college will not be able to compete.For the reasons mentioned above, it seems to me that students are more likely to be successful in their careers if they continue their studies beyond school level.孩子什么时候开始学习二外好：Traditionally children have begun studying foreign languages at secondary school, but introducing them earlier is recommended by some educationalists. This policy has been adopted by some educational authorities or individual schools, with both positive and j negative outcomes.The obvious argument in its favor is that young children pickup languages much more easy than teenagers. Their brains are still programmed to acquire their mother tongue, which facilitates learning another language, and unlike adolescents, they are not inhibited by self-consciousness.The greater flexibility of the primary timetable allows for more frequent, shorter sessions and for a play-centered approach, thus maintaining learners' enthusiasm and progress. Their command of the language in later life will benefit from this early exposure, while learning other languages subsequently will be easier for them.They may also gain a better understanding of other cultures. There are, however, some disadvantages. Primary schoolteachers are generalists，and may not have the necessary language skills themselves. If specialists have to be brought into deliver these sessions, the flexibility referred to above is diminished. If primary language teaching is not standardized，secondary schools could be faced with a great variety of levels in different languages within their intake, resulting in a classroom experience which undoes the earlier gains. There is no advantage if enthusiastic primary pupils become demotivated as soon as they change schools. However, these issues can be addressed strategically within the policy adopted.Anything which encourages language learning benefits society culturally and economically, and early exposure to language learning contributes to this. Young children's innate abilities should be ha messed to make these benefits more achievable.孩子的闲暇活动是否应该与学习有关？Today, education has become a priority for many parents seeking to secure a good future for their children in this rapidly changing world. They believe that if their children apply themselves andwork hard at school, then they will increase their opportunities for going to higher education and eventually getting a good job. Of course, they are right, and as access to the best education and best jobs is becoming more competitive, then it is true that children have to make the best oftheir study time when they are young.However, the parents who do not allow their children sufficient free time for leisure activities outside school hours are misguided. Such activities are far from being a waste of time for the children simply because they are not academic. It is important to remember that children need to develop skills other than intellectual ones, and the best way to do this is through activities such as sports, games and playing with other kids. If they cannot play make-believe games, how can they develop their imagination? How can they learn physical co-ordination or learn important social lessons about winning and losing if they do not practice any sports? Many children form strong, personal relationships with the friends they played with, and without the opportunity to do this, they could grow up emotionally immature and unformed.Finally, I think it is also important to remember that children need to relax as well as work. If everything they do must have some educational or academic relevance, then they will soon get tired of studying together, which is the least thing parents would want.学习文科的好处:Students spend a great deal of time and money on tertiary study; therefore, vocational subjects would be a better investment in terms of immediate job opportunities. However, not everyone has an aptitude for science, engineering or medicine, and there is a need for graduates with expertise gained from arts courses.In subjects such as philosophy, students learn a valuable set of skills. They become active thinkers who learn how to solve problems, rather than passive learners who memorize facts an d other people’s ideas. Philosophy students become proficient at critical and moral thinking, argumentation and debate. The ability to examine and analyze topical issues or challenge the status quo is very important. After all, someone needs to question the results or indeed the usefulness of scientific research, the politician’s assertions, and historical events and assumptions in general. What is more, scandals in business and government emphasize the need for ethics in the corporate and public domain.The sciences and business are clearly very important for our community, and those who have talent should, of course, pursue a university degree and a career in those fields. If, however, they also have training in logic and analytical thinking or a broad general knowledge from studying arts subjects, they are more likely to be able to solve problems, create initiatives, identify bias and avoid major pitfalls as they progress through their careers.In short, I wholeheartedly disagree with the statement that arts subjects should not be taught. I suggest that every student should have instruction in philosophy, history or other arts subjects, even if they elect to major in the sciences, because learning critical thinking skills, and developing a wide background knowledge, will benefit them enormously in later life. In addition to this general training, we need specialist graduates in arts subjects to make their contribution to a well-rounded society. 学习艺术的原因:10 reasons why arts in education is important for kids:There is no doubt that the arts are fun for kids. Diving into those finger paints and making a beautiful picture to hang on the fridge is awesome. Acting in a play is exhilaration. But the arts also help children develop on many fundamental levels.Here are the top ten ways that the arts help kids learn and develop important characteristics they will need as adults:1. Creativity. Arts allow kids to express themselves better than math or science. They are allowedto use their imagination to create the things (paintings or songs) based on their knowledge and perception of the world without being restricted. In the art class, children are asked to recite a monologue in six different ways, creating a painting that represents a memory, or compose a new rhythm to enhance a piece of music. If children have practice thinking creatively, it will come naturally to them now and in their future career.2. Improved academic performance. The arts don’t just develop a child’s creativity-the skills theylearn because of them spill over into academic achievement.3. Motor skills. This applies mostly to younger kids who do art or play an instrument. Simplethings like holding a paintbrush and scribbling with a crayon are an important element to developing a child’s fine motor skills.4. Confidence. While mastering a subject certainly build a student’s confidence, there issomething special about participating in the arts. Getting up on a stage and singing gives kidsa chance to step outside their comfort zone. As they improve and see their own progress, theirself-confidence will continue to grow.5. Visual learning. Especially for young kids, drawing, painting, and sculpting in art class helpdevelop visual-spatial skills. Children need to know more about the world than just what they can learn through text and numbers. Art education teaches students how to interpret, criticize, and use visual information, and how to make choices based on it.6. Decision-making. The arts strengthen problem solving and critical thinking skills. How do Iexpress this feeling through my dancing? How should I play this character? Learning how to make choices and decisions will certainly carry over into their education and other parts of life-as this is certainly a valuable skill in adulthood.7. Perseverance. I know from personal experience that the arts can be challenging. When I wastrying to learn and master the clarinet, there were many times when I became so frustrated thatI wanted to quit. But I didn’t. After practicing hard, I learned that hard work and perseverancepay off. This mindset will certainly matter as they grow-especially during their career where they will likely be asked to continually develop new sills and work through difficult projects. 8. Focus. As you preserve through a painting or singing or learning a part in a play, focus isimperative. And certainly focus is vital for studying and learning in class as well as doing a job later in life.9. Collaboration. Many of the arts such as band, choir, and theater require kids to work together.They must share responsibility and compromise to achieve their common goal. Kids learn that their contribution to the group is integral to its success-even if they don’t have the solo or lead role.10. Accountability. Just like collaboration, kids in the arts learn that they are accountable for theircontributions to the group. If they drop the ball or mess up, they realize that it’s important to take responsibility for what they did. Mistakes are a part of life, and learning to accept them, fix them, and move on will serve kids well as they grow older.。
