Discover ideas for both familiar and new play materials and how they not only support the cognitive, physical, and social and emotional development of children from birth to age 3 but also meet the diverse needs of individual children.
Early childhood educators know how important it is to choose the right materials to include in your infant and toddler program. There are so many options, and often your budget won't stretch cover everything you'd like to include. With this guide, discover ideas for both familiar and new play materials and how they not only support the cognitive, physical, and social and emotional development of children from birth to age 3 but also meet the diverse needs of individual children. With a thoughtful selection of appropriate materials, you can enhance the quality of your program and create an accessible, inclusive, and equity-based environment that makes all children feel welcome.
This book is an invitation to discuss play materials as
the “right stuff” for supporting whole child development and well-being. It
offers developmental snapshots of the four stages of infancy, lists of
suggested play materials and books appropriate for each stage, and concrete
guidance on how and why to use these resources with infants and toddlers,
making it the perfect guide for infant and toddler teachers and families.
—Diane
M. Horm, George Kaiser Family Foundation Endowed Chair and Director of the Early
Childhood Education Institute (ECEI), University of Oklahoma-Tulsa
This is a wonderful
overview of how to support children from birth to age 3 with a rich selection
of developmentally appropriate play materials. Each idea invites teachers to
engage the hearts and minds of young learners thoughtfully and responsively.
—Peter L. Mangione, Senior Director of Early Childhood
Strategic Initiatives, WestEd
Utilize this enlightening book and you
will experience much joy with children! It offers a full range of practical
play strategies, unique materials, and positive outcomes most appropriate for
healthy human development. Beautifully written and illustrated, this book is an
extraordinary resource for anyone seeking inspiring approaches to play and nurturing
happier, more well-balanced children.
—Walter F. Drew, Founder and Executive Director,
Institute for Self Active Education and Dr. Drew’s Toys
McMullen and Brody offer a
reflective and reader-friendly array of play materials, activities, and
practical suggestions for infant and toddler teachers that inspires quality
interactions and teaching practices. Helpful appendices include highlights of
early development, children’s books that correspond to developmental interests
and needs, and suggestions for further reading. This is an excellent resource
for new teachers!
—Susan L. Recchia, Professor Emeritus, Early Childhood
and Special Education, Teachers College, Columbia University
This thoughtfully crafted book outlines
the learning that happens during play for very young children, providing
readers with the perfect balance of developmental reasoning and application
strategies for immediate use. I will be using this book in my trainings for
infant and toddler teachers going forward.
—Jessi Beedle, Infant/Toddler Early Childhood Education
Specialist, Early Childhood Connections
McMullen and Brody offer clear-eyed
explanations of the what and how of materials
for supporting learning and development. Notably, they also establish why these
open-ended play materials and interactions are important across all areas of
development for infants, toddlers, and twos.
—Nancy File, Professor Emerita, University of
Wisconsin-Milwaukee
