Shop by Topic
Shop by Product
ExchangeEveryDay Past Issues
<< Previous Issue
| View Past Issues | | Next Issue >> 
Towards a More Playful Spirit
July 23, 2007
When people are smiling they are most receptive to almost anything you want to teach them.
-Allen Funt
-Allen Funt
In our new Beginnings Workshop Book: Play, Bonnie Neugebauer, in her article, "The Spirit of Adult Play," (which can viewed in its entirety in the "Exchange Ideas for You -- FREE" section of our home page at www.ChildCareExchange.com) asks what would happen if...
. . . parents found me playing when they arrived at the center? What would I be doing?
. . . parents came to the center to play with their children? How can I make this happen?
. . . teachers were comfortable playing during the workday? Would it be okay to play alone or with other adults, or would it only be okay to play with children?
. . . I turned my most hateful task into play? How could I accomplish this?
. . . I didn't worry about making mistakes or failing? What if I didn't care about making a fool of myself?
. . . I did the things that I really enjoy frequently? What are those things in my life?
You can now purchase all seven Beginnings Workshop Books at a package price. The seven practical teacher training and curriculum development resources provide advice from the field's leading thinkers on play, child development, art, music, movement, drama, brain research, math, science, behavior, and literacy. Check out this bargain!
ExchangeEveryDay
Delivered five days a week containing news, success stories, solutions, trend reports, and much more.
What is ExchangeEveryDay?
ExchangeEveryDay is the official electronic newsletter for Exchange Press. It is delivered five days a week containing news stories, success stories, solutions, trend reports, and much more.
Recycled Plastic Play Systems!
Play Mart celebrates 25 years creating safe, environmentally-friendly and fun playground equipment. New Early-childhood products for 2007!
Play Mart celebrates 25 years creating safe, environmentally-friendly and fun playground equipment. New Early-childhood products for 2007!
Comments (2)
Displaying All 2 CommentsINSIGHTS Trainin
Stillwater, MN, United States
THE PLAYFUL ADULT by Sue Baldwin is another resource on this topic. You can view selections on my webpage: www.suebaldwin.com
Wheelock College
Lincoln,, MA, United States
Good questions, Bonnie. My comments fall under the heading "The play's the thing." I have one more question to add at the end of these comments.
The word "play" is taken very seriously in sports, drama, music, and literature. I think early childhood teachers do play as they communicate with individual children. In fact, one research study recently studied the use of the rules for
"improv" as criteria for evaluating ece
teacher/child/teacher/child/etc communication, and found that these criteria fit perfectly. (See EArly Childhood Research Quarterly.)
Play is creative and relational. I love the idea of using this kind of criteria for
evaluating teachers. I think we should
all become more interested in brain
development and neurological research.
My question is: "What part of the teacher's brain "lights up" when she
or he is communicating with children in this way?
Post a Comment