3/2/2017 10ThingsEveryParentShouldKnowaboutPlay|NAEYCForFamilies

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10ThingsEveryParent
ShouldKnowabout DevelopmentallyAppropriate

Play Practice:FocusonInfantsand
Toddlers
byLaurelBongiorno Author(s):
CarolCopple,SueBredekamp,
1.Childrenlearnthroughtheirplay. DerryKoralek,&Kathy
Dontunderestimatethevalueofplay. Charner,eds.
Childrenlearnanddevelop: ISBN:9781928896951

cognitiveskillslikemathandproblem BuyNow
solvinginapretendgrocerystore

physicalabilitieslikebalancingblocksand TheYoungChildand
runningontheplayground Mathematics(2nded.)

newvocabularylikethewordstheyneedto Author(s):
playwithtoydinosaurs JuanitaV.Copley
RelatedArticles:
ISBN:9781928896685
WhyThisToy?
socialskillslikeplayingtogetherina
ToysasTools:EverydayScienceExperiences pretendcarwash

literacyskillslikecreatingamenufora
Share: pretendrestaurant BuyNow

moreForYourChild'sTeacher...

MoreLearning&Development: 2.Playishealthy.
Playhelpschildrengrowstrongandhealthy.
ExploretheGreatOutdoorswithYour... Italsocounteractsobesityissuesfacing
IstheSchoolReadyforYour... manychildrentoday.
"IHelpedMamaToo!"Cooking...
10CajasTemticasparaAprender 3.Playreducesstress.
10cosasquelospadresdeberansaber... Playhelpsyourchildrengrowemotionally.It
isjoyfulandprovidesanoutletforanxiety
andstress.

4.Playismorethanmeetstheeye.
Playissimpleandcomplex.Therearemanytypesofplay:symbolic,sociodramatic,functional,
andgameswithrulestonamejustafew.Researchersstudyplaysmanyaspects:howchildren
learnthroughplay,howoutdoorplayimpactschildrenshealth,theeffectsofscreentimeonplay,
totheneedforrecessintheschoolday.

5.Maketimeforplay.
Asparents,youarethebiggestsupportersofyourchildrenslearning.Youcanmakesurethey
haveasmuchtimetoplayaspossibleduringthedaytopromotecognitive,language,physical,
social,andemotionaldevelopment.

6.Playandlearninggohandinhand.
Theyarenotseparateactivities.Theyareintertwined.Thinkaboutthemasasciencelecturewith
alab.Playisthechildslab.

7.Playoutside.
Rememberyourownoutdoorexperiencesofbuildingforts,playingonthebeach,sleddinginthe
winter,orplayingwithotherchildrenintheneighborhood.Makesureyourchildrencreateoutdoor

memoriestoo.

8.Theresalottolearnaboutplay.
https://families.naeyc.org/learninganddevelopment/childdevelopment/10thingseveryparentshouldknowaboutplay 1/2
3/2/2017 10ThingsEveryParentShouldKnowaboutPlay|NAEYCForFamilies
Theresalotwrittenonchildrenandplay.HerearesomeNAEYCarticlesandbooksaboutplay.
DavidElkindsThePowerofPlay(DaCapo,2007reprint)isalsoagreatresource.

9.Trustyourownplayfulinstincts.
Rememberasachildhowplayjustcamenaturally?Giveyourchildrentimeforplayandseeall
thattheyarecapableofwhengiventheopportunity.

10.Playisachildscontextforlearning.
Childrenpracticeandreinforcetheirlearninginmultipleareasduringplay.Itgivesthemaplace
andatimeforlearningthatcannotbeachievedthroughcompletingaworksheet.Forexample,in
playingrestaurant,childrenwriteanddrawmenus,setprices,takeorders,andmakeoutchecks.
Playprovidesrichlearningopportunitiesandleadstochildrenssuccessandselfesteem.

LaurelBongiorno,PhD,isthedirectorofChamplainCollegesgraduateprograminearly
childhoodeducation,withspecializationsinteachingandadministration,inBurlington,Vermont.
Shehastaughtpreschool,directedearlychildhoodprograms,andstudiedparentsperceptionsof
preschoolerslearningthroughplay.

NationalAssociationfortheEducationofYoungChildrenPromotingexcellenceinearly
childhoodeducation

Category: ChildDevelopment

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