Play Is Important Work
As an early childhood educator, you know how important play is for young children. You also know that selecting the right play materials to include in your program matters; there are so many options, and often your budget does not stretch to cover everything. With this book, discover ideas for both familiar and new play materials and how those materials support the cognitive, social and emotional, and physical learning and development of children from birth to age 3.
This practical, easy-to-read resource
· Presents foundational information organized around the who, why, how, and what of using play materials to support very young children's learning and development
· Provides suggestions for play materials and describes why they are useful for different aspects related to each learning and development domain
· Includes safety considerations and tips on a range of topics, including climbing, choking hazards, and interacting with animals
· Recommends more than 75 children's books that go hand-in-hand with each learning and development domain
With a thoughtful selection of appropriate play materials, you can enhance the quality of your program by creating an environment and providing experiences that enable all children to thrive.
Autorentext
Mary Benson McMullen, PhD, is professor of early childhood education at Indiana University (IU), where she has been on faculty since 1993. She received a BS from Michigan State University and earned MS and PhD degrees in child development from Florida State University. During and after her graduate education, she worked as a teacher of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers and then as an early childhood program director, before accepting her position at IU. At IU, she teaches courses to preservice and in-service early childhood teaching professionals, as well as to doctoral students who plan to become early childhood teacher education scholars. Mary's primary research interests involve factors that influence quality early care and education for infants and toddlers; the healthy overall growth, development, learning, and well-being of young children (birth through age 5); teaching beliefs and practices across cultures and contexts; and factors that influence and ensure the well-being of professionals who care for young children. She has published dozens of articles for both research and teaching journals, as well as numerous book chapters. She is coeditor of the 2019 book The Wiley Handbook of Early Childhood Care and Education. Mary lives in Bloomington, Indiana, where she and her husband of 40 years raised their three sons.
Inhalt
Introduction
Part 1: Essential Questions
Chapter 1: Who? Children from Birth to Age 3
Chapter 2: Why? Supporting Learning, Development, and Well-Being
Chapter 3: How? The Role of Teachers
Chapter 4: What? Curating Play Materials for Very Young Children
In Your Words
Part 2: Cognitive Learning and Development
Chapter 5: Play Materials That Help Me Construct Knowledge and Understanding
Chapter 6: Play Materials That Facilitate My Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills
Chapter 7: Play Materials That Inspire My Approaches to Learning
In Your Words
Part 3: Social and Emotional Learning and Development
Chapter 8: Play Materials That Help Me Understand Myself and Others
Chapter 9: Play Materials That Encourage Me to Express Myself Creatively
Chapter 10: Play Materials That Connect Me to Nature and Science
In Your Words
Part 4: Physical Learning and Development
Chapter 11: Play Materials That Help Me Develop My Gross Motor Skills
Chapter 12: Play Materials That Enhance My Fine Motor Skills
Chapter 13: Play Materials That Teach Me About My Body in Space
In Your Words
Final Thoughts
Appendix A: Highlights of Learning, Development, and Positive Well-Being
Appendix B: On the Bookshelf
References
Resources
Index
Acknowledgments
About the Authors