Infant and toddler teachers will love this book! In rich classroom vignettes, they will see themselves respected as professionals whose work demands deep knowledge and skills. The authors offer numerous practical, friendly strategies to promote all children’s development through playful environments and interactions.

—Marilou Hyson, Early Childhood Education Consultant

This book shares a wealth of information that helps teachers understand what play looks like for infants and toddlers and how to make the most of their time with babies!

—Linda Gillespie, Parent and Infant Specialist

This Is Play invites readers to consider what is most central to play: the humans engaged in it! This book brings to life what it means to be a coexplorer as infants and toddlers discover the world, learning with and from them. Chock-full of real-world examples, this is an excellent resource for preparing professionals for the field!

—Elita Amini Virmani, Associate Professor, Early Childhood Studies, Sonoma State University

What a gift to infant and toddler teachers! This book offers an engaging blend of developmental information, practical strategies, and inspiration. It’s an extremely valuable resource for helping teachers facilitate infant and toddler play based on a deep understanding of the children and families they serve.

—Catherine Tsao, Senior Program Associate, WestEd

Early support of play skills is critical for young children with and without developmental differences. The authors make play, a complex topic, accessible to those less familiar with the importance of play for children’s development, and the practical strategies and resources are useful for any parent or teacher of young children.

—Jennifer Frey, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Education & Human Development, The George Washington University

This is a long-awaited practical resource for infant and toddler teachers that focuses on what play is, why it is so crucially important, and how to scaffold play with our youngest learners. A must-read for infant and toddler teachers!

—Adria Bader, Curriculum and Education Manager, LeafSpring Schools, Virginia

This Is Play is a comprehensive and practical guide to best practices for those of us working with our youngest children. The book’s emphasis on the role of play in the nuanced flow of caring for and developing relationships with infants and toddlers is a critical component.

—Jennifer Addleman and Samantha Sisk, Coteachers, Campus View Child Care Center

This Is Play is a much-needed addition to the literature written for early childhood educators. The book is easy to read, provides many concrete examples, and is inclusive of the varied needs of children. Early childhood educators have myriad daily responsibilities in the classroom, but the authors provide clear guidance to help educators create and support children’s play without adding too much more to their plates.

—Excerpt from Teachers College Record review by Brenna Hassinger-Das