Can we play?

The attached article discusses the fact that Korean kids aren't playing very much these days. I think that's also true of American kids. But instead of extra schooling or studying American kids are glued to screens of some type. And sorry, I don't buy the argument of 'they need to embrace this technology to succeed in the future.' My Favorite Daughter teaches PE to grades K-8 and will confirm that the current crop of young kids do not know how to play.... many have never skated, jumped a rope, or thrown a ball. And you rarely see American kids playing outside like the 'olden days.' This Gmama finds that sad.

Just to clarify how intensely Koreans focus on studying instead of playing, I want to tell you about one of my Korean Language Teachers. He's in Arizona working on a PhD in Finance but went to middle school - and maybe high school - in Korea. He recently explained to our class that his middle school & high school classes started at 7am and ended around 3pm. Not too much difference there.... But then, after school was out he would go to Hagwons (which are private academies) and later to study rooms until 3am. You got that right.... schooling from 7am to the next morning at 3am. For years. No wonder Koreans are excelling in Academia!

We asked him if he would have his future kids go with the Korean method or the US method... and he responded 'why do you think I live here?' ~ Judy

Pat here. I lived in Sweden in 1985 for a year. At that time I had two kids, one preschool age and one in grade school. Swedish kids didn’t start school until they were seven years old. Preschool was all about play, play, play. Academics didn’t start until age seven. My five year old learned how to make cinnamon buns from scratch! In 2028 the age to start compulsory school will drop to age six. There is a debate about this. In the USA kids are learning to read in kindergarten. Enough said.

https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10517357

Korean Study Room. Apparently you rent the space for a semester or year and you can personalize your cubicle.