When the Alexandria Head Start program in Alexandria, Virginia, wanted to enrich
and expand its curriculum in the area of motor development and focused play, it
turned to a local resource and established a powerful collaborative partnership.
The Joy of Sports Foundation, also located in Alexandria, is a nonprofit organization
concerned with helping children grow and develop through structured play. Its
Star Program has been praised for its focus on children's developmental needs
and was recognized by the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports as
a model program.
Developed by Andrew Oser, founder of the Joy of Sports Foundation, the Star Program
addresses five goals for children's development: self-esteem, concentration,
imagination, relaxation, and cooperation. Originally created for children in kindergarten
through second grade, the Star Program had to be adapted for younger children.
For example, the "Circle Catch" game calling for children to stand
a few feet apart and throw a small ball to each other was modified to have the
preschool children stand much closer together and gently toss a larger ball. Younger
three-year-olds might simply pass the ball around to one another.
Program Performance Standards
In developing Star Power for Preschoolers, Oser relied heavily on the
wisdom and experience of Angie Godfrey, Director of the Alexandria Head Start
program. What Godfrey and Oser came to realize was that the Star Program works
very well with the Program Performance Standards. Standard 1304.21 (a)(4)(i-ii)
states:
Grantee and delegate agencies must provide for the development
of each child's cognitive and language skills by:
(i) Supporting each child's learning, using various
strategies including experimentation, inquiry, observation, play, and exploration;
(ii) Ensuring opportunities for creative self-expression through activities
such as art, music, movement, and dialogue.
Godfrey felt that the Star Program supports her Head Start
curriculum goals. In addition, the materials needed for the Star Power experiences
can be very simple and are accessible to Head Start programs.
Physical play is crucial to positive child development. "Virtually all
constructive learning throughout childhood takes place through play, beginning
almost from the moment of birth," writes Joseph Chilton Pearce, author
of the book The Magical Child, in his forward to Star Power for
Preschoolers. "It is nature's way of building our fundamental knowledge
of world and self, and the relationship between the two."
Play is a powerful vehicle for helping young children develop life skillsit
is how children learn about themselves and explore the world in which they live.
The time children spend in unstructured, free play provides them with essential
growth opportunities. However, free play can be complemented by structured play,
designed to offer learning experiences that may not be readily available through
free play.
For more information, contact Angie Godfrey at T: 703-549-8685, F: 703-549-2097,
or Andrew Oser at T: 703-768-4077, E: joysports@patriot.net.
See also:
Head Start Bulletin #67
