Let Them Play

by Johnson, Jeff A.; Dinger, Denita; Murphy, Lisa

• ISBN13: 9781605540535
• ISBN10: 1605540536
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-05-08
• Publisher: Redleaf Pr

Summary

Playtime is focused, purposeful, and full of learning. As they play, children master motor development, learn language and social skills, think creatively, and make cognitive leaps. This (un)curriculum is all about fostering children's play, trusting children as capable and engaged learners, and leaving behind boxed curriculums and prescribed activities. Filled with information on the guiding principles that make up an (un)curriculum, learning experience ideas, and suggestions for building strong emotional and engaging physical environments, Let Them Playprovides support to those who believe in the learning power of play.

Author Biography

Jeff A. Johnson has more than twenty years of early childhood experience, runs a family child care program, and is a popular keynote speaker and trainer. He is the author or coauthor of five other Redleaf Press books: Finding Your Smile Again, Keeping Your Smile, Do-It-Yourself Early Learning, Everyday Early Learning, and Babies in the Rain. Denita Dinger has been a child care provider for more than ten years and operates a family child care program. She is a frequent featured speaker at early childhood conferences, focusing on the topics of hands-on learning and learning through play.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. ix
Preface	p. xiii
Acknowledgments	p. Xv
What Happened to "Go Play"?	p. 1
Play-Focused Learning	p. 5
What Happened to "Go Play"?	p. 11
Why the Rush?	p. 16
Is Rushing Worthwhile?	p. 20
Where Are We Rushing To?	p. 22
Defining an (Un)Curriculum	p. 25
What an (Un)Curriculum Is Not	p. 27
Characteristics of an (Un)Curriculum	p. 28
Push the Curriculum Back Up	p. 48
Supporting an (Un)Curriculum	p. 51
Trust Your Employees	p. 52
Focus on Art	p. 56
Truly Value Play	p. 59
Encourage Activist Caregivers	p. 60
Overcome Fear	p. 62
Seek Out Simplicity	p. 65
Value Vacation Mind-Sets	p. 68
Creating Engaging Spaces	p. 77
Happy Brains	p. 80
Engaged Senses	p. 81
Safe Danger	p. 84
Abundant Time	p. 87
Unbridled Chitchat	p. 89
Predictable Change	p. 90
Thoughtful Stimulation	p. 91
Appropriate Challenge	p. 94
Real Work	p. 95
Perpetua Motion	p. 96
Trusting Kids to Learn	p. 99
Emotional Environments	p. 100
Trusting Children	p. 113
(Un)Planning	p. 143
Throw Away Your Lesson Plan Book	p. 149
Be an Early Learning Experience Architect	p. 153
Practice the Principles of (Un)Planning	p. 154
Taking Baby Steps	p. 179
Denita's Story	p. 180
Experiment and Shake Things Up	p. 192
Tests, Evaluations, and Assessments ... Oh My!	p. 201
Don't Feed the Beast	p. 205
Assess and Evaluate This	p. 207
Trust Children's Self-Assessment and Self-Evaluation	p. 207
Document	p. 210
Do Something with Documentation	p. 213
References	p. 217
Suggested Reading	p. 219
Suggested Websites and Blogs	p. 223
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