The latest issue of Jingkids is all about playing. When I was little my mom would try to convince me that practicing piano was the same as playing since it’s called “playing the piano”. I never bought it… I grew up during a time when Asian parents associated playing with wasting time. Basically, to my mom, any time that wasn’t spent studying was time wasted. But that’s not the case. Even Tiger Moms have come to realize that playing isn’t just about having fun, it’s also a large part of social, emotional, and educational development.
Nowadays we believe that learning should be fun and prefer that children are self-motivated about learning rather than passively being taught things that they show little passion for doing. In this issue of Jingkids we take a look at how playing helps children develop in every aspect of their lives. We speak with Dr. Joy Oreto from Oasis International Hospital on the importance of playdates in children ages zero to two (P 22).
What about at home? Raising a child isn’t just Mom’s job. The “absentee dad” is as outdated as the TV shows they appeared on. Our Deputy Managing Editor Cindy Marie Jenkins shares her (and her husband’s) insights into dad’s role in a child’s development (P 36).
The new addition to our Editorial team is Julie Wolf, a former actress who has been working in early education for over 18 years. Wolf is no stranger when it comes to theater or play time and she shares the benefits of theatrical playtime at home (P 32) as well as the importance of playing with a purpose (P 34).
As summer approaches, check out these unconventional sports around town recommended by one of our student correspondents XueFei Liu (P 26) and be sure to follow us on WeChat for the latest information on family-friendly activities, crafts, and summer camps.
To download a copy, scan the QR code below.
This article appeared in the jingkids 2021 March issue
