Parents are convinced that playing is essential for later educational, academic and professional success

 
Children play an average of seven hours per day
So-called “21st Century Skills” mostly unknown in Germany

Over half of the parents in Germany (54 %) are convinced that children learn essential skills they need for later educational, academic and professional success in free play. That’s one of the results of a recent survey conducted by the German market research and opinion polling institute forsa and commissioned by LEGO GmbH. The institute interviewed mothers and fathers of one or more children aged between one and five. According to the report, parents are convinced that their children will need communication, collaboration and problem solving to face the ever-changing challenges of the future – three skills that also belong to the core competences of the so-called “21st Century Skills”.

When asked whether they advocate early childhood education or whether they suppose that children learn essential skills from free play, 54 percent were positive that free play teaches children everything they need for a successful future. 25 percent prefer a combination of free play and early childhood education. These findings are supported by the fact that one- to five-year-old children in Germany play an average of seven hours per day.

Parents’ point of view: skills their children need for a successful future

When asked for essential skills their children will need in the future, parents first and secondly name collaboration (55 %) and communication (46 %); assertiveness, (38 %), problem solving (31 %) and initiative (29 %) follow hard on the heels. Thus the survey confirms that parents attach great importance to skills that are considered to be core competences of the 21st century. That’s even more interesting considering that 94 percent of them have never even heard of the “21st Century Skills”.

Construction toys enhance certain skills

Parents were asked for their opinion on which skills may be enhanced by playing with construction toys. Most parents (77 %) think that construction toys mainly inspire creativity. Two fifth of the reference group are positive that these toys effectively promote technological skills (44 %), perseverance (40 %), and problem solving skills (38 %). Only few know that they also encourage collaboration (29 %), communication (14 %), and empathy (4 %). However, that’s exactly where versatile toys like LEGO DUPLO come in and promote the perfection of the so-called “21st Century Skills”. The different theme worlds of the colourful bricks inspire little builders to create surprisingly unique pieces of art and to assume the roles of different characters. Doing so, children undergo a change of perspective and develop real empathy. Interaction with parents, siblings, and friends help them to learn how to achieve their goals, and lets them experience how to compromise and what social competence means. Thus infantile play is a decisive factor for the development of essential skills that help children prepare for the ever-changing requirements of modern society.

21st Century Skills – core competences for the future

The technologization and globalisation of our modern world is going to grow continuously. Thus the ability to reduce and understand this enormous complexity is increasingly in demand. In the future, we will have to face yet unknown challenges. That’s why the ever-changing modern world calls for always new core competences that help to adjust to changing requirements. These competences are known as the “21st Century Skills”. Most important skills are: creativity, problem solving, communication, collaboration, and empathy. Scientists worldwide research this topic. The LEGO Group e.g. has entered into the “P21” (Partnership for 21st Century Learning), an American organisation that strives to promote the acquisition of key skills. Now neuroscientists have proven what the LEGO GmbH has long suspected: Childhood is the most important stage in the life of humans. During this stage their brain develops. The progress of brain development depends on what we do and how we do things during the first, formative years. Children’s favourite pastime, playing, assumes a key role. While playing, they casually learn important skills that help them to adjust to ever-changing requirements.