This is Play

Julia Luckenbill, MA, is the program coordinator for the infant-toddler program at the NAEYC-accredited Early Childhood Laboratory School (ECL) at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), Center for Child and Family Studies (CCFS). She is also a child development demonstration lecturer. A frequent contributor to NAEYC’s periodicals and blogs, she presents at NAEYC conferences and elsewhere on child development topics for families, teachers, and students. Julia’s many interests including using puppetry to teach social and emotional skills, integrating LGBTQI families in early childhood settings, using photography to document children’s learning and coach adults, making farm-to-school connections, and integrating medically fragile children and child life practices in early childhood education settings. She lives with her partner and kindergartner and enjoys painting rocks in her spare time. Aarti Subramaniam, PhD, is a research analyst for the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources 4-H youth development program. Her work has supported youth development professionals and practitioners working with children and adolescents in learning programs that include garden-based learning, camp programs, environmental science, and youth leadership. Her areas of interest include learning environments that are empowering for children and young people, authentic assessment, and learning outside the classroom. She has authored articles in journals such as Journal of Youth Development and Children, Youth and Environments. Janet Thompson, MA, is director of the Early Childhood Lab (ECL) School at the UC, Davis, CCFS. She has established the school’s outdoor spaces as a Certified Nature Explore Classroom and works with families, teachers, and college students on ways to design and use outdoor environments to enhance children’s learning and health. She has a particular interest in social and emotional competency and its contributions to early learning and is a strong advocate for active learning approaches that emphasize responsive adult–child interactions. Janet was a primary author on social-emotional development for the California Department of Education’s Preschool Learning Foundations and Preschool Curriculum Frameworks and a contributing author for the California Preschool Program Guidelines.

Introduction
Chapter 1: The Importance of Play for Young Children
Chapter 2: Young Infants: Birth to 9 months
Chapter 3: Mobile Infants: 8–18 Months
Chapter 4: Toddlers: 16–36 Months
Chapter 5: Working with Children with Diverse Abilities and Needs
Conclusion
Appendix
Play Developmental Chart
Glossary
Acknowledgments
About the Authors