Playful Exploration Often Precedes Serious Accomplishment
Before those who’ve yet to fix on a passion are ready to spend hours a day honing skills, they must trigger interest through playful exploration.
How to Get Your Kids Playing Outside With Other Kids
Do your kids play outside with other neighborhood kids for at least an hour a week? Do they decide for themselves what, where, and with whom to play? Do they sometimes create their own games and rules? Do they settle
How Rich Environments Promote Learning
The takeaway: Rich environments foster learning all by themselves — especially when children enjoy them with other children.
How Mark Zuckerberg Played His Way to Success
Whether one is 4, 12, or 40, “play” is not the opposite of “work.” It’s actually the process by which we discover what delights us and what we really care about.
Build a “Chocolate Factory” in Your Home
With a Chocolate Factory, plenty of free time for messing around, and a little encouragement, who knows what planet your children will find themselves on — it’s bound to be good!
In Praise of (Brutal) Board Games!
When you and your child can laugh about all the setbacks and injustices that these games visit upon us, well, I think you’ve all learned something worthwhile. I’m still a work in progress.
Teach Your Children How to Pretend Play
When early childhood educator Erika Christakis began teaching preschool in 2001, she was troubled to find that some children at her school were not into pretend play. They could run, throw a ball, do all sorts of art projects, discuss
Children’s Play Areas Are For … Children!
I’ve been in a few homes with play areas for children that look something like this: I’ve been in other homes with play areas for children that look more like this: They’re both gorgeous. But they’re very, very different! Take
To Jump-Start Pretend Play, Teach Kids About the Adult World
Pretend play is terrific for children, helping them learn self-regulation, language, and social skills. To inspire pretend play, teach children about roles in the adult world and help them get started with a few simple props. Carla, mother of four-year-old
Why Pretend Play Is Your Preschooler’s Best Teacher
Pretend play is not only delightful, it’s also an extraordinarily valuable learning experience for children.