Supporting Play Birth Through Age Eight

Helping young people learn through play is the focus of this publication, aimed at teachers and future teachers of children from birth through age eight. Current research presented here examines the positive effects of play on children’s social/emotional, cognitive, and physical development. The reader will learn how to assess a child’s learning through play, making play a more practicable teaching mechanism. They also will learn step-by-step recommendations for establishing a classroom that promotes play and developing play-based programs designed for children in specific age groups: infants and toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarten children, and primary-age children. Incorporating play into the program of special needs children not only is addressed in each age-specific section, the author pays particular attention to this topic in a stand-alone section. Educators also will value the list of recommended Web sites for further research on the subject, as well as lists of materials and books perfect for play centers.