Play Today: Building the Brain Through Creative Expression

When young children are engaged in imaginative play, they are not just having fun; they are developing skills and concepts that are foundational to their learning. Teachers can get the most out of this critical development time with thoughtful preparations that allow the children to freely explore their creativity and learn from each other. Using simple props and donated items, the book shows how centers can be transformed into rich and rewarding learning spaces for children. Play Today offers dozens of easy-to-do scenarios that will spark open-ended play explorations.

Play strategies discussed boost brain development in many ways, including:

• Memory and flexible thinking
• Communication
• Social-emotional skills
• Mathematics
• Science
• Literacy