Supporting Play in Early Childhood: Environment, Curriculum, Assessment, Second Edition, is based on the premise that play should guide curriculum development because children learn through play. With a focus on why and how to teach children through play, this text is aimed at educating current and future teachers of children from birth through age eight. It reviews current research about play in young children and examines how play benefits their social/emotional, cognitive, and physical development. Readers learn how to implement a play-based program for infants and toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarten children, and primary-age children, including specifics for setting up a classroom to encourage play. Recommendations for facilitating play with special needs children are included throughout the text and in a separate chapter.
