the video clip below from the Bernard van Leer Foundation in the Netherlands. "What a gift we give a child when we take them to the park, to the beach" - in this clip from The Beginning of Life, child development experts explain why young children benefit from exploring the natural world.

In your initial response, share your thoughts on the following:

• Why is the issue of play widely debated? Why have some schools canceled recess in favor of longer academic periods?
• Why do you think children are not encouraged to play outdoors when they are home?
• What did you learn from the clip from "Beginnings of Life", that supports the research that shows that play is critical for healthy child development
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Os0fJhHHHiA&t=49s