"Find out why play is so important, and how to support it, in this convincing review of what we know about how children grow and learn. What you find will change the way you teach or parent children from birth through their primary school years." -- from back cover.

Discover why playing is school readiness with this updated guide. Timely research and new stories highlight how play is vital to the social, physical, cognitive, and spiritual development of children. Learn the seven meaningful experiences we should provide children with every day and why they are so important.

Creative Arts in the Lives of Young Children draws together two essential strands in contemporary educational discourse: the importance of high quality care and education in the early years, and the central role that imaginative arts experiences can and should play in the lives of all young children. A number of underlying themes are highlighted throughout the book. All are related to the potential for quality arts experiences in the early years to achieve transformational outcomes for children. These include: the enhancement and development of children's creativity and imagination * the encouragement of children's innate problem solving abilities * the opportunity to experience a diversity of cultures and a broad world-view * the scaffolding of positive attitudes, skills, and ways of being (habits of mind), to help children flourish in the 21st century. The book is grounded in current research and practice about the importance of the arts in young children's lives. Written explicitly for early childhood pre-service and in-service teachers, parents, and caregivers, it includes a range of engaging and practical creative arts activities and suggested experiences for children from birth to eight years of age. Creative Arts in the Lives of Young Children provides a combination of research, activities, and real world vignettes. It reinforces partnerships between parents and early childhood practitioners and teachers. The book covers a broad range of artistic experiences, such as storytelling, art appreciation, puppetry, paint, clay, drama, and music.

Children, Play, and Development offers a comprehensive look at children′s play from birth to adolescence.

For fans of Press Here, this new interactive picture book invites readers to touch and move and "play" with the book. To start our show we need a band--maybe you can lend a hand! There are lots of ways little hands can make music. Each page of this interactive book invites readers to strum the guitar, slide the trombone, crash the cymbals, and more--no instruments required! With a delightful rhyming text and engaging illustrations, this book is full of instruments waiting to share their sounds. The only thing this band needs is YOU! Just use your imagination, turn the pages, and Play This Book! Pair with Pet This Book, another title by author Jessica Young and illustrator Daniel Wiseman that comes printed on heavy-duty card stock pages to stand up to all kinds of play!

'Children's Play' explores the many facets of play and how it develops from infancy through late childhood. The authors discuss major revolutions in the way the children of today engage in play, including changes in organised youth sports children's humour, and electronic play.

Playing and Learning in Early Childhood Education supports early childhood education students, practitioners, and primary educators to engage in the exploration of the theoretical framework of play, characteristics of play, the environmental and cultural factors that influence play, and the application of developmentally appropriate play practices. Playing and Learning in Early Childhood Education is grounded in sharing new research, practices, and ways of knowing about play and its contributions it makes to the lives of children and how play sets the foundation for later academic and life dispositions. This new edition reinforces how play prepares children to develop the critical thinking, problem solving, their desire to be curious, and creative expression that facilitates their communication skills, ability to embrace place, community, their culture, and diversity amongst peers. These skills form the foundation for the 21st century skills needed that focus on STEAM - Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math.