Concord Preschoolers Make the Most of Child's Play

Some of our favorite childhood recollections involve playing. That’s the premise Tracy Tryban opened with as she addressed 20 parents during a Friday presentation about educational play at . 

Tryban is a play facilitator at the DuPage Children’s Museum. She and Cindy Miller, DCM’s community access coordinator, organized the two-part program for parents and children who are enrolled in Concord’s preschool.

Tryban, who has a master's in education, peppered an overview of the resources and 12 exhibits at the museum with constructive ways to “facilitate learning through play." The museum’s exhibits, or “neighborhoods,” include concepts in art, creative exploring, science, gross motor skills, math and more. 

Tryban offered examples of specific questions parents can ask their children during play, such as “Can you make a square [with blocks]?” “Can you fill it with orange blocks?” “What do you think will happen if we stack the blocks really high?”

The museum offered the parents flyers with tips for making the most of out of child’s play. Talking about what the child is doing helps build vocabulary and delve into deeper thinking. Letting children lead the play, rather than the parent, helps children build a better sense of themselves.

Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg and colleagues published a clinical report in the American Academy of Pediatrics Journal that seems to effectively echo the DuPage Children’s Museum's philosophy.

“When play is allowed to be child driven, children practice decision-making skills, move at their own pace, discover their own areas of interest, and ultimately engage fully in the passions they wish to pursue,” the report states.

Miller, who heads DCM's outreach program, said that Friday's event was funded by a "Pre-school For All" grant. She brought several exhibits from the museum and invited parents and preschool students to explore each station.

Animated and eager students greeted glow art, mini rollways, a pin push and oversized Tinker toys set up in the preschool classroom.

Concord parent Susi Joshi, who has visited the museum before, praised it as a great place for her four children.

“The museum is modeled in such a way that kids are encouraged, never inhibited or reprimanded, for doing what comes natural to them,” Joshi said.

The children’s museum has recently converted one of its exhibits into a spaceship and also makes weekly changes to the environment to add fresh interest during every visit.

Deanna Kozak smiled and played with her sons as they pressed their hands and faces into the push pin exhibit.

“It’s great that they bring the program to the parents to show them what it’s all about,” Kozak said.