Lizzie Assa Of The Workspace For Children On The 5 Things Parents Can Do To Help Their Children Thrive and Excel In School

An Interview With Jake Frankel

Start by setting up a rich, play-based learning space at home that encourages exploration and creativity, including access to open-ended art and play materials.

School is really not easy these days. Many students have been out of school for a long time because of the pandemic, and the continued disruptions and anxieties are still breaking the flow of normal learning. What can parents do to help their children thrive and excel in school, particularly during these challenging and anxiety-provoking times?

To address this, we started a new series called ‘5 Things Parents Can Do To Help Their Children Thrive and Excel In School.” In this interview series, we are talking to teachers, principals, education experts, and successful parents to learn from their insights and experience.

As a part of this interview series, I had the pleasure to interview Lizzie Assa.

Lizzie Assa is the founder of The Workspace for Children, a parenting strategist, play expert, and mother of three. With a background in early childhood education and experience working with families and children, Assa helps parents and caregivers avoid burnout by teaching their children independent play. She is a firm believer in the power of simplicity and consistency in play, and is dedicated to promoting these values. Prior to starting The Workspace for Children, Assa received an MsED from the Bank Street College of Education in New York City and taught nursery school in Manhattan. She has been featured in various publications such as Parent’s Magazine, NY Times Parenting, Time, and The WSJ.”

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dive in, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share with us a bit about your “backstory”?

I am actually one of five, and I grew up in a really playful home. It was the eighties, so there was a lot of play happening!

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I have a background in early childhood education. I was a classroom teacher for many years and when I had my own kids, I really understood the difference between true play-based learning and not and how to use play to connect with my kids. Once I started doing that, I started sharing tips on play and connection with parents and The Workspace for Children was born.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

“Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning.” — Fred Rogers

I believe that play is how children make sense of their world. By encouraging play, we’re not just keeping children busy, we’re nurturing their growth and giving them a way to process everything they are learning.

You are a successful leader. Which three-character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?

Determination, grit, and creativity. Determination keeps me going when I’m showing parents how important play is, even if they’re skeptical at first. Grit has been crucial in overcoming obstacles and continuing to advocate for self-directed play, especially when its importance can be undervalued. Creativity- Coming up with high-impact, low-effort ways for adults to get kids playing independently has taken creativity, for sure. It’s my mission to empower parents and caregivers and support healthy child development through play and I am grateful for these character traits.

Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that will help people?

I’m currently working with Kinder Chocolate to share helpful tips for families going back to school this fall. It’s important for parents to remember that they don’t have to make the transition to back to school picture-perfect or social media worthy. When parents try too hard it puts undue pressure on everyone. Instead of trying to take the perfect first-day picture or hanging back-to-school decorations, look for fun bite-sized moments that allow your kids to be kids without the extra planning or effort — like enjoying Kinder Chocolate while playing outside and unwinding together as a family.

I am also writing my first book, “BUT I’M BORED!”: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO INDEPENDENT PLAY FOR KIDS AGES 1–8, proposing that the solution to overscheduled, overstimulated kids is doing less not more, and showing how instituting daily quiet time for a child (when they read, create, and play without parents) is the key to a child’s healthy development and a parent’s well-being and sanity.

For the benefit of our readers, can you tell us a bit about why you are an authority on how to help children succeed in school?

My background and education have taught me just how important it is for adults to make space for child-led play and learning. We know from Kinder Chocolate’s parenting study that parents want their kids to develop empathy and independent thinking skills. Play, especially unstructured and imaginative play, is critically important for developing empathy and independent thinking in children. When children can direct their own play, they also develop crucial skills like problem-solving, creativity, and self-reliance. This independent exploration acts as a natural training ground, allowing kids to practice social skills, emotional regulation, and decision-making. It’s incredible to see how much children grow when we step back and let them take the lead in their play.

Can you help articulate the main challenges that students face today that make it difficult to succeed in school?

Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the main focus of our interview. Can you help articulate the main challenges that students face today that make it difficult to succeed in school?

Some of the challenges that students face today can stem from a lack of opportunities for self-directed learning and play. Many schools prioritize standardized testing and rigid curricula, leaving little room for children to explore their own interests or learn at their own pace. This can lead to decreased motivation and engagement. Additionally, increased screen time and the overuse of structured activities outside of school can limit children’s chances to develop crucial skills like creativity, problem-solving, and self-regulation through free play. These skills are essential for academic success.

Can you suggest a few reforms that you think schools should make to help students to thrive and excel?

While my work focuses on helping families encourage independent play at home, I’m a huge fan of Peter Gray’s ideas about free play in schools. He’s shared great ideas about making school more play friendly. Longer recess, more hands-on learning, and flexible classrooms can make a big difference. Gray also pushes for giving kids time to work on their own projects and a bigger focus on social and emotional learning. He shares concrete ideas for rethinking after-school programs to be more play-based rather than structured. Additionally, reducing homework can allow more time for free play at home. These changes can create an environment that nurtures children’s natural curiosity and love of learning, helping them excel both academically and personally.

Here is our primary question. Can you please share your “5 Things Parents Can Do To Help Their Children Thrive and Excel In School?” Please share a story or example for each.

To help children thrive in school, parents can focus on creating a home environment that fosters independence and a love for learning. Start by setting up a rich, play-based learning space at home that encourages exploration and creativity, including access to open-ended art and play materials. This, combined with establishing consistent routines for independent play and learning, lays a strong foundation for academic success. Modeling and encouraging a growth mindset are crucial. Regular, meaningful conversations about children’s interests and experiences enhance critical thinking and language skills, as well as develop confidence in who they are as individuals.

As you know, teachers play such a huge role in shaping young lives. What would you suggest needs to be done to attract top talent to the education field?

I would love to see more support, training, and education offered to professionals regarding social and emotional learning and understanding neurodiversity.

We are blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US, with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them :-)

I’d love to have lunch with Loris Malaguzzi, founder of the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education. His vision of children as capable and resourceful deeply aligns with my work in fostering independent play. I’m particularly intrigued by his concept of how the environment acts as a ‘third teacher’.

How can our readers further follow your work online?

You can find me on Instagram @theworkspaceforchildren, and at my website www.workspaceforchildren.com

Thank you so much for these insights! This was so inspiring!