Tag Archives: play

3 Ideas to Get Young Children Learning About and Playing with Food

By Molly Breen In early childhood education, we practitioners are very familiar with the importance of play—in all its many iterations. Play is social, connected, creative, and open-ended. It requires critical thinking and problem-solving, and it both signals and encourages … Continue reading

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The Benefits of Messy Time

By Elizabeth Verdick, author of  Messy Time When my daughter Olivia was a toddler, her best friend was Will, the two-year-old down the street. Will didn’t say much, so Olivia talked for both of them. He adored trains—his “choo-choos.” All … Continue reading

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Rough-and-Tumble Play in Early Childhood Education

By Molly Breen How do you feel about wrestling? I mean it. How does it feel in your body when children in your group begin wrestling or play fighting? Does it stimulate your flight, fight, or freeze response? Can you … Continue reading

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Purposeful Play: Connecting Play and Learning in Preschool

By Molly Breen “Play is serious learning,” quipped Fred Rogers famously. Vivian Gussin Paley devoted a lifetime of teaching and writing to the power of play, describing play as the work of childhood in recognition of its central role in … Continue reading

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When the Weather Outside Is Frightful, Indoor Recess Can Be Delightful!

By Shannon Anderson, author of Penelope Perfect: A Tale of Perfectionism Gone Wild Many of us are already experiencing the cold, rain, and snow this time of year brings. And you know what that means . . . indoor recess! … Continue reading

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