On March 1st, 2012, Jiangsu province will implement new regulations on preschool education. According to the new regulations, kindergartens are not allowed to teach children Chinese, math or English. The movement aims to give kindergarten children more time to play.
Yao Juan, headmaster of a kindergarten says this is essential for healthy development.
"Actually, playing games is exactly the thing that is good for children's development because in the process of playing games children are motivated by passion and imagination."
Like Jiangsu province, Shaanxi province is also taking action to relieve kindergarten children of such heavy burdens. For example kindergartens are not allowed to give homework to children, and kindergartens are prohibited from asking parents to purchase text books.
However, many are concerned these new rules may not really address the issue of giving small kids enough time to play, because parent's decision is also very important here.
Some parents say they think children in kindergarten should spend most of their time playing rather than attending various courses such as mathematics or English.
Other parents say they would rather have their kid in training courses out of fear their children will lag behind.
Many parents are concerned about elementary schools that require interviews of children before enrollment and that their children won't be able to get in without certain skills in math and language.
On one hand, kindergartens are not allowed to set courses such as mathematics or English, and on the other, parents don't want their child lag behind. Kindergarten headmaster Ms. Chen says they are in the midst of a serious dilemma.
"When we enroll children, many parents ask if our kindergarten provides courses such as English, Chinese or mathematics. I tell them that we give children more time to play, won't offer any course apart from what's required by provincial kindergarten curriculum. These parents don't understand this and just leave."
To curb over-education among preschool children, the government is not the only one who makes rules and regulations. Parents should also make the effort to give their kids a happy, and well-rounded, childhood.
For CRI, I am Zhang Wan.
