1 What is Play?
READ FIRST– Learn about play by reading the noted sections from the two resources below.
- Read the “Introduction” (p. 2) of The Wisdom of Play: How Children Learn to Make Sense of the World by Community Playthings (~2 minute read)
- Read “What is Play” (pp. 4-7) in The Power of Play: A Research Summary on Play and Learning by Dr. Rachel E. White for Minnesota Children’s Museum (~5 minute read)
READ NEXT– Review the following documents that highlight children’s right to play and our role as adults to advocate for children’s play.
- Code of Ethical Conduct and Statement of Commitment by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (~24 minute read)
- Convention on the Rights of the Child by the Committee on the Rights of the Child (~7 minute read)
CHOOSE ONE– Select at least one of the resources below to extend your understanding about play.
- Five Essentials to Meaningful Play by Marcia L. Nell & Walter F. Drew (~ 9 minute read)
In this article from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), Nell & Drew describe elements of play that make it joyful and a rememberable experience for children and families.
- Follow the Leader: Child-Led Play by Kevin Zoromski (~ 5 minute read)
In this article published by the Michigan State University Extension, Zoromski shares the importance of children leading their play and the benefits of child-led play.
- Play and Learning by Laura Shultz (~2.3 minutes)
In this video from the Boston Children’s Museum, Shultz, a professor of cognitive science, describes elements of children’s play and the similarities of play and the work of scientists.
- Five Not-So-Obvious Propositions About Play by Alfie Kohn (~ 9 minute read)
In this blog post, Kohn describes five ideas about play to consider that will help to understand some of the challenges around children’s play.
