Preschoolers at Play: Choosing the Right Stuff for Learning and Development

Awards:   Winner of Excel Awards Gold for Technical book 2023 (United States)
Author:   Lisa Mufson Bresson ,  Megan King
Publisher:   National Association for the Education of Young Children
ISBN:  

9781938113765


Pages:   144
Publication Date:   29 September 2022
Format:   Paperback
Availability:   Available To Order   Availability explained
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Preschoolers at Play: Choosing the Right Stuff for Learning and Development


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Awards

  • Winner of Excel Awards Gold for Technical book 2023 (United States)

Overview

Excel Awards Gold Winner for Technical book The research is clear: Play is a critical part of the learning process for young children. Early childhood educators have the opportunity to deeply and meaningfully scaffold children's learning by curating and organizing the ""stuff"" children love to play with most. With this book, discover ideas for both familiar and new play materials and how those materials support the cognitive, social and emotional, and physical learning and development of children ages 3 to 5. This practical, easy-to-read resource Presents foundational information organized around the who, why, how, and what of using play materials to support preschoolers' learning and development Provides suggestions for play materials and describes why they are useful for different aspects related to each learning and development domain Offers activity ideas as well as examples of questions to ask and comments to make that can extend children's understanding as they engage in playIncludes tips for developmentally appropriate ways to embed technology in children's play Recommends more than 90 children's books that go hand-in-hand with each learning and development domain Be inspired to take a look at your early learning setting through fresh eyes and enhance the quality of your program by providing play materials and experiences that nurture the learning, development, and well-being of each preschooler you teach.

Full Product Details

Author:   Lisa Mufson Bresson ,  Megan King
Publisher:   National Association for the Education of Young Children
Imprint:   National Association for the Education of Young Children
ISBN:  

9781938113765


ISBN 10:   1938113764
Pages:   144
Publication Date:   29 September 2022
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Available To Order   Availability explained
We have confirmation that this item is in stock with the supplier. It will be ordered in for you and dispatched immediately.

Table of Contents

Introduction   Part One: Essential Questions Chapter 1: Who? Children from Ages 3 to 5 Chapter 2: Why? Optimizing Learning, Development, and Well-Being Chapter 3: How? The Role of Teachers Chapter 4: What? Play Materials for Preschoolers Summary and Reflection   Part Two: Cognitive Learning and Development Chapter 5: Play Materials That Support My Language and Literacy Skills Chapter 6: Play Materials That Teach Me Mathematical Concepts Chapter 7: Play Materials That Encourage Me to Build and Engineer Chapter 8: Play Materials That Inspire Scientific Inquiry and Innovation Chapter 9: Play Materials That Help Me Understand Nature             Summary and Reflection   Part Three: Social and Emotional Learning and Development Chapter 10: Play Materials That Support My Emotional Intelligence, Relationship Building, and Cooperation Skills Chapter 11: Play Materials That Invite My Creative Expression Through Visual Arts Chapter 12: Play Materials That Encourage Me to Explore and Make Music Chapter 13: Play Materials That Inspire Pretend Play and Dramatic Play Summary and Reflection   Part Four: Physical Learning and Development Chapter 14: Play Materials That Build My Gross Motor Skills Chapter 15: Play Materials That Enhance My Fine Motor Skills Chapter 16: Play Materials That Help Me Understand My Body Chapter 17: Play Materials That Stimulate My Senses             Summary and Reflection   Final Thoughts   Appendix A: Highlights of Learning, Development, and Positive Well-Being   Appendix B: On the Bookshelf   References   Resources   Index   Acknowledgments   About the Authors

Reviews

This book should be in every preschool classroom! It is difficult to find information that is new, engaging, and proven successful in the classroom, but finally, here is a useful tool for preschool teachers. I especially love the features within each chapter that break down suggestions for play materials, tips for incorporating technology, questions to consider, and more. I am excited to implement these ideas and activities. -Dana Pergola, Pre-K Teacher, Passaic Public Schools Grounded in developmentally appropriate practice, this essential and practical book supports and inspires preschool teachers and coaches to intentionally select and use play materials to foster children's engagement, creativity, and learning across all domains. Bresson and King empower us to hold on to the joy of teaching through creating and reflecting on developmentally appropriate environments, materials, and teacher-child interactions. -Holly Seplocha, Professor Emeritus, William Paterson University, and Early Childhood Consultant and Author Play is such an important topic, and Lisa and Megan have presented a beautifully simple approach to choosing the right stuff for the preschool classroom. Each chapter is filled with ideas, wonderings, and questions to reflect upon. Breaking the chapters down into domains of learning allows for working on one area of development at a time. This is the perfect addition to my bookshelf. I can't wait to share it with my staff and see how they integrate some of these suggestions in their classrooms! -Karen Humphris, Executive Director, Passaic County Community College Child Development Center I hope this book finds its way into the hands of all preschool teachers, coaches, and college faculty. The authors adopt a strong commitment to joy and curiosity and hold the teacher as a creative professional and essential collaborator with children. The right stuff it offers is everything one would need to create a vibrant early learning classroom. It opens on a strong foundation of curiosity about and in children and on how to foster joy and learning with play. What follows is a super accessible and well-organized feast of resources and activities. Of note are the questions at the end of each part that help teachers connect to their own learning and well-being. This resource is a complete package that will help any teacher embody the truth that any time becomes the right time to capitalize and build on children's curiosity. -Katie Emerson-Hoss, Higher Education Outreach and Implementation Manager, EarlyEdU Alliance at University of Washington What a wonderful resource! The supply lists, suggestions for how to incorporate the play materials into learning experiences, and linkages to how they support development are both useful and engaging. I cannot wait to use this book with my staff and graduate students. -Kristen Allen, Director of Early Education, YWCA Rhode Island This book accurately describes how planning and designing the environment to include specifically chosen play materials for preschool-age children will have a significant impact on early childhood educational practices. Well written and simply stated, this resource will be invaluable to child care professionals in their educational journey. -Eve Robinson, Program Director, Grow NJ Kids, and Instructor/Visiting Specialist, Montclair State University This book weaves together child development and the critical importance of play, while empowering teachers to creatively make decisions for play materials that foster children's learning. It is a fantastic resource for teachers in all stages of their career and for the coaches that support them. -Kelley J. Perkins, Co-Director, Early Childhood Leadership Institute, Rowan University


This book should be in every preschool classroom! It is difficult to find information that is new, engaging, and proven successful in the classroom, but finally, here is a useful tool for preschool teachers. I especially love the features within each chapter that break down suggestions for play materials, tips for incorporating technology, questions to consider, and more. I am excited to implement these ideas and activities.   —Dana Pergola, Pre-K Teacher, Passaic Public Schools    Grounded in developmentally appropriate practice, this essential and practical book supports and inspires preschool teachers and coaches to intentionally select and use play materials to foster children’s engagement, creativity, and learning across all domains. Bresson and King empower us to hold on to the joy of teaching through creating and reflecting on developmentally appropriate environments, materials, and teacher–child interactions.   —Holly Seplocha, Professor Emeritus, William Paterson University, and Early Childhood Consultant and Author   Play is such an important topic, and Lisa and Megan have presented a beautifully simple approach to choosing the “right stuff” for the preschool classroom. Each chapter is filled with ideas, wonderings, and questions to reflect upon. Breaking the chapters down into domains of learning allows for working on one area of development at a time. This is the perfect addition to my bookshelf. I can’t wait to share it with my staff and see how they integrate some of these suggestions in their classrooms!   —Karen Humphris, Executive Director, Passaic County Community College Child Development Center     I hope this book finds its way into the hands of all preschool teachers, coaches, and college faculty. The authors adopt a strong commitment to joy and curiosity and hold the teacher as a creative professional and essential collaborator with children. The “right stuff” it offers is everything one would need to create a vibrant early learning classroom. It opens on a strong foundation of curiosity about and in children and on how to foster joy and learning with play. What follows is a super accessible and well-organized feast of resources and activities. Of note are the questions at the end of each part that help teachers connect to their own learning and well-being. This resource is a complete package that will help any teacher embody the truth that any time becomes the right time to capitalize and build on children’s curiosity.   —Katie Emerson-Hoss, Higher Education Outreach and Implementation Manager, EarlyEdU Alliance at University of Washington     What a wonderful resource! The supply lists, suggestions for how to incorporate the play materials into learning experiences, and linkages to how they support development are both useful and engaging. I cannot wait to use this book with my staff and graduate students.   —Kristen Allen, Director of Early Education, YWCA Rhode Island     This book accurately describes how planning and designing the environment to include specifically chosen play materials for preschool-age children will have a significant impact on early childhood educational practices. Well written and simply stated, this resource will be invaluable to child care professionals in their educational journey.   —Eve Robinson, Program Director, Grow NJ Kids, and Instructor/Visiting Specialist, Montclair State University     This book weaves together child development and the critical importance of play, while empowering teachers to creatively make decisions for play materials that foster children’s learning. It is a fantastic resource for teachers in all stages of their career and for the coaches that support them.   —Kelley J. Perkins, Co-Director, Early Childhood Leadership Institute, Rowan University


Author Information

Lisa Mufson Bresson,is an early childhood education consultantwith Beyond Boundaries, LLC, and coauthor of NAEYC's bestselling book Big Questions for Young Minds: ExtendingChildren's Thinking. She leads workshops and presentations at local, state,national, and international conferences, thriving on the connections she makeswith learners-both big and little!-on a daily basis. Since 2008, she has been acontributing author to Teaching YoungChildren (TYC), NAEYC's magazine for preschool teachers, and serves on TYC's advisory board. She is a former program manager for Grow NJKids, New Jersey's statewide Quality Rating and Improvement System for earlychildhood programs. Previously, Lisa taught in urban public preschool settingsfor over a decade. Megan King,is a preschool teacher at Passaic PublicSchools in Passaic, New Jersey. She has worked in the field of early childhoodeducation for over 10 years. She is active in the makerspace movement and haspresented on and coauthored several articles on incorporating hands-on ""maker""materials in early childhood classrooms. She has written articles published in TYC and is proud to serve as one of TYC's advisory board members. She works with a diverse group ofearly childhood educators on the NAEYC/PBS Ready To Learn Content ReviewAdvisory Board and is a past NJ Governor's Educator of the Year Award winner atthe school level. Megan enjoys working with her preschoolers and experiencingthe world through their eyes.

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