Developmentally Appropriate Play ─ Guiding Young Children to a Higher Level

Developmentally appropriate play is essential for young children's learning.

The most beneficial play is fun, complex, long-lasting, and all-engaginguit has purpose. What exactly does this kind of play look like, and how can you help children reach this higher level?

Filled with the best strategies to facilitate high-level play experiences, Developmentally Appropriate Play will help you understand how to plan for, guide, and identify purposeful play. This resource is based on guiding principles from the third edition of Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children from Birth through Age 8 from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). It also includes information on

-Creating an environment where complex, rich play develops and thrives

-Enhancing children's play through interaction and provocations

-Adding representation through documenting, writing, and drawing to further enrich play

-Incorporating early learning standards into play

Gaye Gronlund is an early childhood consultant who trains early childhood educators across the country. She is a former preschool, kindergarten, and primary teacher of both regular and special education and holds a master's degree in adult learning and early childhood education. Gaye is also the author of Make Early Learning Standards Come Alive and Focused Early Learning and the coauthor of Focused Portfolios, Focused Observations, and Early Learning Standards and Staff Development.