Dear Parents and Carers

Last week I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the NSW Catholic Schools Principals’ Conference. There was a great line-up of speakers including Pasi Sahlberg, Finnish educator, author and scholar who now works with the Gonski Institute at the University of New South Wales. Finland is one of the top performing OECD countries in terms of education - so listening to Pasi was quite extraordinary!

Pasi spoke to this group of principals about the importance of play in the life of a child. Sometimes, in the ‘busyness’ of our adult lives we may not place enough importance on play for our children. Take a minute to reflect on how you played as a child and then ask yourself: Do your children play - physically play - as much as you did as a child? If not - where are you putting the emphasis for the development of your children?

These are tough questions not only as parents but also as educators. I came away from the conference asking myself: Are we running the risk of not having people who are creative, empathetic, problem solvers, risk takers? Are we moving children toward an adult world too quickly? Are we expecting children to take on adult understandings and live in an adult world way before they are ready?  & the big question I kept asking myself was:  Are we robbing our children of their childhood in the relentless pursuit of standardised academic achievement?

In 2018, the LEGO Foundation produced a report aiming ‘to simply to help better understand what the simple, instinctive act of playing means: the way it’s evolved, the benefits it brings to the individual and families, the barriers that get in the way and how we can protect it.’

The report came up with some really interesting findings including 10 Principles to Inspire Families to Play Well:

All of these can be a challenge - but so can parenting and teaching. This week take some time to observe how your child plays and how you encourage him or her to play. You may even challenge yourself to sit down for 10 minutes and really play with him/her - don’t let the ‘adult’ in you get in the way!

Until next time, may we journey together with Jesus

Toni Sillis

Principal