Summary of Article's First 150 Words
Total word count: 2468
We all need the patience and the vision to look into children's play, not just at [children's play].
— Harley, 1999, pg. 26
Play, particularly children's sociodramatic play, is very much the cornerstone of early childhood classrooms in the United States. As early childhood educators, we learn and expound the ubiquitous mantras of 'the value of play,' 'play-based programs,' 'children learning through play,' and 'play as child's work.' We strive to promote the importance of making a place for play in programs for young children, and to educate parents and broader communities about the benefits that children derive from engaging in play with one another.
Children's social play is one of the most important venues for learning in the early childhood classroom. Through play with others, they develop self-direction and self-control, an understanding of symbolic representation, fluency in communication and cooperation, problem-solving strategies, and an understanding of cultural rules and social behavior (Meckley, ...
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