Children had rather be making of Tools and Instruments of Play; Shaping, Drawing, Framing, and Building, &c. than getting some Rules of Propriety of Speech by Heart: And those also would follow with more Judgment, and less Trouble and Time. (8)
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Children learn better through play and creation than by memorizing rigid rules of speech.
- In plain terms
- Kids prefer building toys to memorizing speech rules and learn better that way.
- What can you take from it?
- Hands-on learning and play are more effective than rote memorization.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do children learn best?
- Is play undervalued in schools?
Another view
Structure and rules are sometimes necessary for foundational knowledge.
More from William Penn
It is admirable to consider how many Millions of People come into, and go out of the World, Ignorant of themselves, and of the World they have lived in. (1)
Permalink to quote #18 It were Happy if we studied Nature more in natural Things; and acted according to Nature; whose rules are few, plain and most reasonable. (9)
Permalink to quote #20 The public must and will be served.
Permalink to quote #17
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