Full Description
Early childhood educators know how important it is to choose the right materials to include in your preschool classroom. 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 ages 3 to 5 but also meet the diverse needs of individual children. With a thoughtful selection of appropriate materials, you can enhance the quality of your classroom and create an accessible, inclusive, and equity-based environment that makes all children feel welcome.
Contents
Introduction
Part
One: Essential Questions
Chapter 1: Who? Children
from Ages 3 to 5
Chapter 2: Why? Optimizing Learning, Development,
and Well-Being
Chapter 3: How? The Role of
Teachers
Chapter 4: What? Play
Materials for Preschoolers
Summary and Reflection
Part
Two: Cognitive Learning and Development
Chapter 5: Play Materials
That Support My Language and Literacy Skills
Chapter 6: Play Materials
That Teach Me Mathematical Concepts
Chapter 7: Play Materials
That Encourage Me to Build and Engineer
Chapter 8: Play Materials
That Inspire Scientific Inquiry and Innovation
Chapter 9: Play Materials
That Help Me Understand Nature
Summary and Reflection
Part
Three: Social and Emotional Learning and Development
Chapter
10: Play Materials That Support My Emotional Intelligence, Relationship
Building, and Cooperation Skills
Chapter
11: Play Materials That Invite My Creative Expression Through Visual Arts
Chapter 12: Play Materials
That Encourage Me to Explore and Make Music
Chapter 13: Play Materials
That Inspire Pretend Play and Dramatic Play
Summary and Reflection
Part
Four: Physical Learning and Development
Chapter
14: Play Materials That Build My Gross Motor Skills
Chapter
15: Play Materials That Enhance My Fine Motor Skills
Chapter 16: Play Materials
That Help Me Understand My Body
Chapter 17: Play Materials
That Stimulate My Senses
Summary and Reflection
Final Thoughts
Appendix A: Highlights of
Learning, Development, and Positive Well-Being
Appendix B: On the
Bookshelf
References
Resources
Index
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
