For Your Binder

Loose parts were provided on playgrounds located in two housing structures in Paris. The researchers had questions:  How will children play with objects that are not toys? How do the objects affect children's play? #play #toys #playwork #adventureplaygrounds #recess #outside

Is the playground a community within a community? How do we familiarize children with their community while also making sure the community is familiar with children, their presence and their play?   #playgrounds #play #outside

Awhile back I participated in an online seminar about Shindana Toys sponsored by the Strong National Museum of Play. I took a few notes but recently I happened upon this online slideshow that pretty much highlights all the points made in the session and includes some good photographs; so I am including it here for you.  #toys #equity #play 

This articles explores the concept of scaffolding and offers a few strategies.  #theorists #DAP #teaching #learning

This is an impressive overview of the research collected for the Minnesota Children's Museum in 2012. Not surprisingly, White's closing comment implies that while play is under siege, we must not forget that it is play that sets the stage for a strong foundation. #play #teaching #learning #DAP #theorists

Taking a cue from the bees! #DAP #play #teaching #learning

Louder for the people in the back!  #DAP #play #teaching #learning

Play is a state of mind, but it is also a state of body, emotion, and spirit.  #play #teaching #learning #creativity

This article begs the question, why are we so hellbent on, "bigger! better! faster! sooner! now!" ?? #DAP #play #pushdown #teaching #learning #parenting     

Disclosure: if you have been waiting for a "good reason" to subscribe to the NYT to access some of the articles I post, this might just be it.

Might some of the chaos found in the study of play theory be due to the lack of clarity about the popular cultural rhetorics that underlie the various play theories and play terms?    This link will take you to a stand alone chapter (written by Sutton-Smith) of The Game Design Reader:  A Rules of Play Anthology by Katie Salen & Eric Zimmerman, 2006.  If Sutton-Smith is new to you, this will be a good warm-up before you dive into his 1997 classic, The Ambiguity of Play.   #play #theorists

School psychologists represent untapped potential in their knowledge, skillset, and placement to serve a vital role in building the bridge between neuroscience and education (and perhaps in eliminating the perpetuation of neuromyths too!) #teaching #learning

There is some evidence that moral attitudes towards parenting have changed. Example: leaving children unsupervised is now judged as morally "wrong" and, as such, people overestimate the risk associated with it. #risk #play #parenting #outside