The mental health field has seen a significant shift in the past decade toward including a neuroscience perspective when designing clinical interventions. However, for many play therapists it has been challenging to apply this information in the context of play therapy. Here, Theresa Kestly teaches therapists how to understand the neurobiology of play experiences so […]
Efforts to give preschool children a head start on academic skills like reading and mathematics instead rob them of play time both at home and school. Indeed, the scientific evidence suggests that eliminating play from the lives of children is taking preschool education in the wrong direction. This brief but compelling book provides a strong […]
Why is it that the best and brightest of our children are arriving at college too burned out to profit from the smorgasbord of intellectual delights that they are offered? Why is it that some preschools and kindergartens have a majority of children struggling to master cognitive tasks that are inappropriate for their age? Why […]
The Resources Project works with schools to support meaningful, inclusive opportunities for social connection, mindfulness, creativity, and all kinds of play. Their award-winning, evidence-based Recess Project Changemaker’s Guide was designed to disrupt the outdated routines and replace them with healthy, inclusive and compassionate interactions. It is the product of a unique research collaboration of school […]
John Holt (1983–1985) is the author of How Children Learn and How Children Fail, which together have sold over a million and a half copies, and eight other books about children and learning. His work has been translated into more than 40 languages. Once a leading figure in school reform, John Holt became increasingly interested […]
Volume 2 shows homeschooling gaining ground in the public’s eye, and these articles reflect the grassroots nature of the movement. Stories about children learning over time; household chores and allowances; computers and television use; how to teach math, reading, and other subjects with patience and clarity, and more fill these pages. In addition, John Holt’s […]
Volume 3 covers a period when homeschooling was getting more local, national, and international media attention and the growth of the movement comes alive in these pages. Holt’s long essay in GWS 32, “Our Legal Situation,” addresses this growth and offers surprising advice to those who want to overturn compulsory school laws—don’t do it. Parents […]
Play is serious business. Whether it’s reenacting a favorite book (comprehension and close reading), negotiating the rules for a game (speaking and listening), or collaborating over building blocks (college and career readiness and STEM), Kristi Mraz, Alison Porcelli, and Cheryl Tyler see every day how play helps students reach standards and goals in ways that […]
Thoughtful essays on topics that affect your daily work with children and their families Navigate through the extreme swings of opinion in educational philosophy, regulations, and practices and focus on the middle ground?a place where common sense and intentional teaching combine in support of high-quality early childhood care and education. Covering a variety of topics, […]
Today more than one and a half million children are being taught at home by their own parents. In this expanded edition of the book that helped launch the whole movement, Pat Farenga has distilled John Holt’s timeless understanding of the ways children come to understand the world and added up-to-the-moment legal, financial, and logistical […]
What do students say about life at Sudbury Valley? This book is a remarkable series of vivid personal recollections of school, in the words of former students. Drawn from comprehensive, reflective interviews, each account presents a picture of school days from the unique perspective of a student, telling what they did, and how they felt […]
This classic study of the spontaneous play of young children combines vivid and delightful observations with profoundly important insights. Alison Stallibrass, an expert on children’s play and the mother of five children, makes clear the importance of uninhibited games and activities, without adult interference, in building a child’s skill, judgment, and self-esteem, and shows how […]
Through engaging personal stories and essays, eight writers offer inspiration and encouragement for both seasoned and prospective unschoolers. This 2nd edition includes Jan Hunt’s “Ten Tips for New Unschooling Parents”. The book features writing by Jan Hunt, Nanda Van Gestel, Daniel Quinn, John Holt, Rue Kream, Kim Houssenloge, Earl Stevens, and Mary Van Doren. Edited […]
Rae Pica knows what she’s talking about. With over 35 years in the field of education, she’s realized that what’s missing from our approach to schooling is an understanding of the connection between how children develop and how they learn. In this collection, Pica keeps children front and center as she provides thought-provoking commentary and […]
Rhythm and repetition, together with example and imitation, are pillars on which early learning is based. Freya Jaffke applies these simple principles in practical and sensible ways. She describes children’s play in a Steiner-Waldorf kindergarten setting, and provides tried and tested advice on this important stage of development. This book includes sections on Planning the […]
Responding to current debates on the place of play in schools, the authors have extensively revised their groundbreaking book. They explain how and why play is a critical part of children’s development, as well as the central role adults have to promote it. This classic textbook and popular practitioner resource offers systematic descriptions and analyses […]
In Teach, Play, Learn! educator Adam Peterson shares his insights about the advantages of adopting play-based teaching in today’s schools. Complete with tons of activities that you can use right now, concrete examples, and a pedagogical toolkit, this book will help you transform classic toys and games—and even everyday objects—into opportunities for play-centered learning. With […]
Jacqueline Lloyd Smith and Denise Meyerson collectively have over 50 years’ global experience in the design and delivery of incredible learning experiences for clients in the private and public sectors. They have partnered with top tier, medium size, and small corporate clients to produce events that rock. They are now opening their files to other […]
LEGO® Serious Play® is thriving. How is it that a child’s toy, has become a serious strategy tool used by some of the worlds best known organisations? And what might be the relevance of this method in your work? LEGO® Serious Play® is the result of 15 years development. A powerful method to solve problems, […]
A guide for teachers about the importance of planning learning experiences that integrate child-centered play with rich content-based instruction. Serious Fun emphasizes a teachers’ active role in children’s play in order to guide learning. Organized into two sections, Serious Fun first looks at strategies teachers can use to connect play to learning. The second focuses […]
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The Institute wants the world to know:
A) Playing, being playful, is the healthiest way to spend your time (after feeding and housing yourself).
B) The activities that evoke playful feelings are unique to each of us.
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