Nursery World - Making space for play

Professor Cathy Nutbrown shows why, in the words of Comenius and Confucius, 'it is better to play than do nothing'.

IThe 17th-century cleric and educator Jan Amos Komensky, known to many as Comenius, took a great interest in the early years of a child's education and in particular, education by mothers within the home. He believed that teachers should understand how a child's mind develops and that all children should receive the same education, whatever their gender and social class - quite a revolutionary idea in the mid 1600s. Comenius promoted education that was 'thorough, natural and enjoyable' and opposed rote learning. He wrote Ten Commandments for a Happy Life, which includes the advice, echoing the words of Confucius, 'Appreciate time and use it well...It is better to play than do nothing'.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included