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 [former] 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 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 skills — it 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.