1st Edition
Why Play Matters: 101 Activities for Developmental Play to Support Young Children
This accessible book is full of play-based activities to support child development. Grounded in evidence-based practice, it inspires and informs readers to understand play, and offers ideas and practical activities to use with the children in their care (ages 0-8).
Drawing from the holistic and inclusive model of Developmental Play, which includes sensory play, creative-explorative play, meaning-making play and higher play, the activities focus on supporting aspects of social, emotional, physical and cognitive development. Each activity follows the helpful structure: “you’ll need,” “your child will learn” and “top tips,” and shows how play can be used to enhance children’s development in five key areas:
- To build emotional wellbeing
- To build social skills
- To build school readiness
- To build physical skills
- To develop sensory processing skills.
Playfulness is fundamental to healthy holistic development and this book shows you why play matters, how it works, and why each reader should bring play back into children’s lives to give them the best start in life for the best chance in life. It is essential reading for early years practitioners, primary school teachers, occupational therapists and parents.
Acknowledgments
Chapter One – The Developmental Play Model
Chapter Two - 20 Ideas for Developmental Play Pyramid Level 1
Sensory-Body Play and Attachment-Safety Play
Chapter Three - 20 Ideas for Developmental Play Pyramid Level 2
Creative-Explorative Play
Chapter Four - 20 Ideas for Developmental Play Pyramid Level 3
Meaning-Making Play
Chapter Five - 20 Ideas for Developmental Play Pyramid Level 4
Higher Play
Chapter Six - 20 Ideas for Nature Play
Chapter Seven - The Power of Messy Play
(CreateCATT’s Favourite Play Activity)
Messy Play
Chapter Eight - How to Scaffold Climbing up the Pyramid and Circles of Play
Chapter Nine - Bibliography
Nature Resources
Links to Play Practice and Research
YouTube
CreateCATT Animations
Biography
Caroline Essame is an occupational therapist, art therapist and educator with over 37 years’ experience in creativity and human development. She has worked in clinical practice, education and development, promoting the role of play and creativity in wellbeing, and healing and development across the world. She is the CEO and Founder of CreateCATT, a child-focused social enterprise, and runs an online academy training across the globe in play-based approaches.
Barnaby Duffy is a British artist raised and educated in Singapore. He is an illustrator of concept art and comic strips, with completed commissions ranging from professional companies to student magazines and previous work for a documentary crew. He is the animator and illustrator of all CreateCATT graphics.
