The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Kids in child-care centres and nursery schools already spend much of their time doing it, but now the Manitoba government is making play time compulsory. The province on Wednesday announced the introduction of what it calls "mandatory play-based curricula" for those facilities. Child-care centres that offer preschool or nursery-school care for children between two and five years of age will be required to implement an early learning and play-based curriculum that meets provincial standards, or ensure their existing curriculum meets the standards. "All parents want to give their kids the very best start possible and today we're taking new steps to help parents do just that," Premier Greg Selinger said. He said the province's Early Returns program "will bring proven play-based learning methods to Manitoba's child-care centres." Incorporate In addition, the province is providing $40,000 to Sport Manitoba to help early childhood educators incorporate play-based and developmentally appropriate physical activity into their daily programming. Official Opposition leader Hugh McFadyen did not appear averse to the idea, but he did mock the province's terminology. "Why have 'fun' when you can have 'mandatory-play-based-child-care curricula' instead?" McFadyen said. "Seriously Ð it's a good thing we have a pre-election mode Greg Selinger on hand to let parents know there is a way for their day-care age children to play outside using London School of Economics terminology. Why tell your kids to get out and have some fun when the NDP is there to make sure they engage in 'mandatory play-based-curricular' activities." Added McFadyen: "The fact that Greg Selinger needs to bureaucratize the concept of 'fun' is a sign of how out-of-touch he is from Manitobans today." Ð Compiled from Government of Manitoba and PC Party of Manitoba news releases. 6/13/2011
