24 Explore More About Physical Play and Big Body Play

Interested in learning more about physical play or big body play? Explore the resources below to deepen your understanding of this type of play.

• Big Body Play: Why Something So Scary is So Good For Children by Frances Carlson (~1.5 hours)

In this webinar, Carlson shares details about how early learning environments can support big body play by making suggestions on the space needed for this type of play and how adults can provide support for children as they play.

• Benefits of Play and Big Body Play in Particular by NAEYC (~39 minute read)

In this resource you will learn more about the benefits of physical play for children from infancy to 8 years old. There are many details provided including how this type of play connects to other aspects of children’s development such as important social emotional skills.

• A Research-Based Case for Recess: Position Paper (2019) by US Play Coalition,  American Association for the Child’s Right to Play (IPA/USA) and the Alliance for Childhood (~39 minute read)

This position paper includes more research-based evidence for the importance of play and how states are moving forward implementing policies on this critical issue.

• Children’s Rough-and-Tumble Play in a Supportive Early Childhood Education and Care Environment by Rune Storli (~22 minute read)

This research paper includes information on a study about rough and tumble play in Norway.