Key Points What is Dramatic Play? Dramatic play is when children use their imagination to take on roles and act out different scenarios, like pretending to be a superhero, parent, animal, or occupation. Also known as pretend play, make-believe play, or role-playing, it’s a powerful way for kids to explore the world while creatively expressing…
Key Points From my start in childcare to my work as a developmental therapist, I have loved incorporating heavy work play with kids. Introducing heavy work play can transform your classroom or home into a happier, calmer space for children. Heavy Work Basics Heavy work is a type of activity that engages muscles and joints…
Key Points As a developmental therapist with over 10 years of experience working with babies and toddlers, I love treasure baskets as a simple sensory activity. I use them to observe a child’s skill level and see how I can help them learn and grow. Let’s explore how parents and early childhood professionals can easily…
Key Points During my infant/toddler CDA (Child Development Credential) training, I first learned about heuristic play. Throughout my years working with children, I’ve continually revisited heuristic play, witnessing its profound impact on their play and learning. Let’s explore those powerful benefits. Then, I welcome you to visit my post on heuristic play examples and the…
Heuristic play offers young children their first chance to learn about everyday objects. Through play and exploration, children will build an understanding of items they will use for the rest of their lives. As a developmental therapist with 12 years of experience in classrooms and homes, I’ve witnessed the impact of heuristic play. My interest…
Whether choosing a toy in their favorite color or arranging treasures from a nature walk, children naturally gravitate toward sorting and classifying. Drawing from my 11 years in early childhood, I’ve come to recognize the incredible benefits of this type of play. Join me as we uncover how to promote these fun STEM skills in…
As a developmental therapist, I regularly recommend container play to parents and infant/toddler teachers. This simple, open-ended activity has powerful learning benefits, and the best part—children love it! Key Points Definition: What is Container Play? Container play is a type of play where babies and toddlers explore putting objects into containers and dumping them out….
Water play offers valuable support for children’s learning and development. Explore its benefits in this guide by a children’s developmental therapist. Key Points Definition of Water Play Water play is a sensory activity where children explore, manipulate, and interact with water, often at water tables indoors or outdoors. Water play is an incredible learning activity…
Updated: September 28, 2024 From nature play to block play, risk-taking to art, discover the stages, benefits, and activities that shape children’s development. This guide breaks down the essentials for parents, educators, and caregivers. Explore all types of play in the early childhood years. Stages of Play Child development theory has two well-known “stages of…
In early childhood education, there are two important approaches to art: Process Art and Product Art. Understanding the difference between them is key for parents and teachers. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of each and why nurturing creativity is vital for our young artists. Key Points What is Process Art An approach that…