“Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity.” -Kay Redfield Jamison.
We hear these words repeatedly, yet schools are focusing more on structured learning and less on free play and recess. Studies have proven the shortage of play in a child’s life is actually putting a strain on their development and emotional health. The instructors at BTG Learning, located in Columbus, offer academic learning through physical activity and sports. “It gets their whole body engaged in learning, which tends to keep their interest,” explains director Wanda Wozniak, “and if they’re interested in what they’re doing, they tend to retain information better.”
BTG Learning focuses on training in math, science, reading and writing for preschool through 5th grade. This academic learning program teaches children that each subject has a real-world value and demonstrates using the skill in your child’s daily life. Instructors come to your home, and your backyard or driveway is the classroom. A session is an hour-long, and instructors come at least once a week. Your child’s curriculum is designed based on his or her needs, and each subject contains a physical activity. For example, if your child is struggling with learning the value of coins, the student will perform jumping jack drills for each coin value. For toddlers, instructors focus on pre-writing, pre-reading and pre-math skills, and each subject helps develop a toddler’s gross and fine motor skills.
Every subject has an advisor who trains instructors. The instructors are college students, majoring in education, and seasoned teachers who are in search of part-time work. Each instructor completes training in classroom mechanics, ways to keep a child engaged and your child’s curriculum. As an added bonus, BTG Learning has a speech-language pathologist on their team who integrates language and communication into every session. Wozniak stresses this critical component, “all children in any content subject must understand how to communicate verbally and in writing to comprehend what their instructor is teaching them.”
If you’re interested in learning more about BTG Learning or enrolling your child, visit their website btglearning.com.
