All Play Content

Young girl smiling
squirrel proof bird feeder activity
Article
Teaching Young Children
October 1, 2024

Squirrel-Proof Birdfeeder

Inspire children to build birdfeeders and figure out how to keep squirrels at bay.
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build a fort activity
Article
Teaching Young Children
October 1, 2024

Build a Fort

Guide children to build a fort that accommodates at least two people. Extend the challenge by encouraging working features.
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box it activity
Article
Teaching Young Children
October 1, 2024

Box It!

Encourage children to make something different from a box or to use a box as the basis for a game.
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Children drawing with chalk outside.
Article
Teaching Young Children
July 1, 2024

Eight Tips for Teaching in the Outside Classroom

These eight tips will help you establish or finetune an outdoor learning program.

Authored by

Authored by: 
Julia Luckenbill, Kathleen Reddick
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children with their hands in the air
Article
Young Children
June 3, 2024

Building Executive Function Skills Through Games: The Power of Playful Learning

NAEYC promotes high-quality early learning for all children, birth through age 8, by connecting practice, policy, and research. We advance a diverse early childhood profession and support all who care for, educate, and work on behalf of young children.

Authored by

Authored by: 
Cynthia A. Wiltshire, Molly Scott
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The cover for the Winter 2023 edition of Young Children.
Issue
Young Children
Vol. 78, No. 4
December 1, 2023

Winter 2023

Technology and Media in Early Childhood Education
The latest issue of Young Children delves into the what, why, when, and how of incorporating technology and media into early childhood programs and classrooms.
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children playing with blocks
Article
Young Children
September 1, 2023

Shifting from a Classroom of Reluctant Compliance to a Classroom of Responsive Curiosity

This article presents a three-part playful learning framework to help educators move from a culture of compliance to one of agency and curiosity.

Authored by

Authored by: 
Elias Blinkoff, Charlotte Anne Wright, Molly Scott, Katelyn Fletcher, Allyson S. Masters, Hande Ilgaz, Lien Vu, Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, Roberta Michnick Golinkoff
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children playing together in fall leaves
Article
Teaching Young Children
April 3, 2023

Eliminate Barriers to Risk Taking in Outdoor Play

The benefits of outdoor play aren’t just physical. It allows children to challenge themselves and become appraisers of risk. This, in turn, helps develop cognitive, social and emotional, and self-regulatory skills.

Authored by

Authored by: 
Amanda Steiner, Anne Karabon, Leah Litz
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children in raincoats playing outdoors with a traffic cone
Article
Young Children
March 1, 2023

Rainy Day, Let’s Play! Outdoor Learning for All (Voices)

Challenged by the pandemic, educators at an urban, public school embraced outdoor learning and recommitted to a play-based curriculum.

Authored by

Authored by: 
Lena Johnson, Lydia Mackie
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the cover of the publication young children, Volume 77, Number 3
Issue
Young Children
Vol. 77, No. 3
September 1, 2022

Fall 2022

Early Math Learning: Intentional Instruction, Playful Experiences
This issue of Young Children offers articles pairing essential math concepts with effective, engaging practices for early childhood settings.
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a teacher having fun with young students
Article
Teaching Young Children
July 1, 2022

Learning Together: Collaborative, Play-Based STEAM Practices in the COVID Era

In this article, we focus on communication and collaboration—qualities that are important in achieving the critical thinking, creativity, and content knowledge involved across STEAM areas.

Authored by

Authored by: 
Sandra M. Linder, Angela Eckhoff
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a childs painting of a butterfly
Article
Teaching Young Children
July 1, 2022

"How Do You Spell Butterfly?" Connecting Play to Content Learning

In this article, Jenna Valasek explains how she uses open-ended materials with intentional teacher planning and scaffolding to engage children in active thinking, social interactions, and joyful learning across multiple areas.

Authored by

Authored by: 
Jenna Valasek
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