Limiting Play Means Limiting Learning
As children grow, the physical ways that they use their bodies naturally become rowdier, rougher, and riskier, especially in their play. But the climbing, leaping, running, and wrestling that many children love are often limited or shut down entirely by well-meaning adults. Author Frances Carlson?who coined the term big body play to describe the energetic, noisy kinds of play that children engage in?returns with this highly anticipated second edition to call attention to the pivotal role this play style has in children's development and learning.
Drawing on evidence-based practice and the latest research, this updated and expanded resource
- Defines what big body play is and what it looks like for children from birth to age 8
- Delves into its benefits for children's physical, social and emotional, cognitive, and language development and learning
- Breaks down myths, misperceptions, and biases surrounding this play style
- Provides strategies and ideas for how educators can create and maintain safe, supportive environments as well as adapt this play for all children
- And explores much more!
Discover why big body play belongs in your program?and how to safely support it for all children to enjoy!
Autorentext
Frances M. Carlson is a former early childhood education program administrator. For over 20 years, she worked in this role at a variety of agencies, companies, and institutions, including the US Department of the Army, the Internal Revenue Service, Wachovia (succeeded by Wells Fargo), Sheltering Arms, Turner Broadcasting System (via Bright Horizons Family Solutions), and Chattahoochee Technical College. She successfully led four programs through the NAEYC Early Learning Program Quality Assessment and Accreditation process.
In 2002, she began teaching early childhood care and education to students pursuing associate degrees at Chattahoochee Technical College. In that position, Frances also successfully led the college's associate degree program through the NAEYC Higher Education Accreditation process, making it the first accredited associate degree program in Georgia. After teaching adults for 14 years, she returned to administration as associate dean of professional services and design, a role she held until her retirement in January 2024.
In addition to the first edition of this book (NAEYC, 2011), Frances authored the book Essential Touch: Meeting the Needs of Young Children (NAEYC, 2006) as well as numerous articles in a variety of early childhood education publications, including Child Care Bridges, Exchange Press, Interaction, Teaching Young Children, and Young Children.She also directed and produced two videos,Expect Male Involvement: Recruiting and Retaining Men in Early Childhood Education (Chattahoochee Technical College, 2009) and An Afternoon with the Experts: Dan Gartrell on Guidance (Chattahoochee Technical College, 2014).
She has presented keynotes, trainings, and sessions across the country and the world, including at association conferences hosted by NAEYC, the Professional Development Institute, the Southern Early Childhood Association, and the Georgia Association for the Education of Young Children.
Frances loves to spend time with her family, and she especially loves to camp, hike, paddle, bake, garden, and listen to her vinyl collection with her husband, Clay, and their 14-year-old Norwegian elkhound, Freya. Frances and Clay have three adult children, twin sons Adam and Sam and daughter Catherine (Caty); a daughter-in-love, Morgan; a son-in-love, Daniel; and one truly grand grandson, Lucas.
For more, visit her website at www.bigbodyplay.com.