Why Play?

How to Make Play an Essential Part of Early Education
In an age when play is often seen as frivolous or unproductive, this book explains the importance of play in early childhood education. Each chapter focuses on a type of play, includes suggestions for putting theory into practice, and offers recommendations that educators can use to help parents understand that play is not separate from learning.

“Use this book to help educate parents, start a book club, or hand this book to your boss to read. Highly recommend!” —Richard Cohen, consultant, and creator of "Zen and the Art of Early Childhood"

Learn how to use play to start children on the road to success.

In an age when play is often seen as frivolous or unproductive, this book explains the importance of play in early childhood education. Each chapter focuses on a specific type of play, includes suggestions for putting theory into practice, and offers recommendations for language and information educators can use to help parents understand that play is not separate from learning.

Why Play? highlights some of the most popular types of play, such as dramatic, cooperative, construction, and loose-parts play. It also covers those considered controversial, such as rough-and-tumble, war, gun, and superhero play.

Parents and policymakers are receiving a great deal of misinformation, leading them to believe that exposure to early academics—not play—is the best way to start children on the road to success. This book shares why different modes of play are beneficial and how educators can facilitate these different types of play in early childhood settings. Whether used as a tool for advocacy or as a guide on how to use play, Why Play? is for everyone who believes children should have the chance to be children, and that child development should guide all our practices.

Book Features:

• Looks at the importance of play in general and then at many different kinds of play, each addressed in its own chapter.
• Provides ideas and information early childhood educators (pre-K–3) can use to make 12 different types of play a greater part of their program.
• Includes “Partnering with Parents” text boxes to help educators speak to parents about the important role play has in developmentally appropriate practice.

UK Delivery:

• Free delivery on all orders of £10 or more.
• £1.49 delivery fee on orders below £10.
• UK orders are shipped via Royal Mail 2nd Class.

International Delivery:

• Flat rate delivery charges vary by country.

Dispatch and Delivery Times:

• All orders are shipped from our warehouse in Northampton, UK within 48 hours of receipt during working hours.
• UK mainland orders typically arrive within 3-5 working days via Royal Mail 2nd Class.
• International estimated delivery times:
• Europe & Channel Islands: 7 to 10 working days
• USA: 7 to 15 working days
• Rest of the World: 9 to 21 working days

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