March 29, 2025

Quote of the Week

"Play is the work of the child." - Maria Montessori

Dear Sunday: Play

We think of play as the province of children—something outgrown with time, something left behind once we enter adulthood. But play is not a childhood indulgence, it is a portal that leads us to our truth and Self (capital S Self). Play is one of the few experiences in life that allows us to move outside linear time and enter what Buddhists call the eternal now—a timeless space where we are wholly absorbed in what is rather than what must be done.

Lindsey Wayland also reminds us that There’s a reason why children form friendships through shared games rather than shared goals. Play creates an immediate bond that doesn’t demand explanations. As adults, we tend to approach relationships with a transactional mindset — what can I offer? What will they give in return? — but play invites us into a relationship of shared presence. It’s not about what we can produce together; it’s about being together. [Read More]

Reading Corner

Title: From Play to Practice: Connecting Teachers' Play to Children's Learning
By: Marcia L. Nell & Walter F. Drew, with Deborah E. Bush
For: Educators

How do we help teachers deepen their understanding of the importance of play? How do we strengthen teachers’ ability to skillfully and intentionally guide children’s learning through play? When teachers engage in creative, open-ended play experiences, they learn firsthand the power of play. They also become more knowledgeable about the purposeful use of materials and intentional teaching strategies they can use to help children engage in open-ended play.

From Play to Practice describes how and why play is important. The play workshop experiences for educators that are outlined in the book help teachers understand and promote play-based learning as part of developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs. Journal reflections of play participants, along with photos from play workshops, illustrate the power of play to change professional and personal lives.

Be the Change

Think of a childhood game you haven’t played in years. Describe it in detail — its rules, its setting, its sounds. Now, imagine playing that game as your current self. What changes? What remains? Write about how the game still lives in you.