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 doesn’t have to be chaotic stress for adults. Drawing from my experience as a classroom teacher, I’m sharing the most effective strategies to turn water play into an enjoyable experience for children and adults. Explore this guide and discover stress-free play, allowing children to experience all the benefits of water play. Best Tips…
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…
Key Points Loose parts are open-ended materials that hold no specific instructions or designated use in play. They are items that children can move, manipulate, and combine in countless ways, encouraging imaginative play and exploration. I’ve already shared a comprehensive list of loose parts materials (check out that post for a FREE PDF download). But now, let’s…
Black and white books are specially designed to captivate and stimulate babies’ developing brains. Discover why these books are incredible for early vision and cognitive development. Why Black and White Books Good for Babies The simple design of black and white books matches the research on baby brain and eye development. Babies see in black,…
Discover the ten benefits of block play and learn how simple building activities support all learning domains. From fostering creativity and problem-solving to promoting social interaction and physical abilities, block play has a significant impact on children’s development. What is Block Play in Child Development? Block play is an imaginative, open-ended learning activity where children use…
Whether you’re an educator, parent, or simply curious, you may wonder, “What is block play, exactly?” This guide will give you a deeper understanding of how playing with blocks nurtures children’s learning and development. What is Block Play? Block play is an imaginative, open-ended learning activity where children use blocks to construct and investigate. Block…
Updated: December 28, 2023 Key Points As an early childhood professional, I am excited to share about nature-based early childhood education. Let’s define this type of program and its benefits; the classroom environment and nature-based activities foster a lifelong connection with nature. What is Nature-based Early Childhood Education? Nature-based early childhood education incorporates the natural…