After teaching kindergarten for 24 years, some things have changed. Standards have become more demanding & rigorous. Children's lives have become more structured. Children are increasing their time spent on technology & the internet. What hasn't changed is human development. Children still develop at the same speed as they always have. What has disappeared from many classrooms is play and especially imaginative play. As an early childhood educator, play is the work of children. Play helps develop imagination, flexible thinking, creativity, empathy, collaboration, negotiation skills AND emotional regulation. Attendees will have a better understanding of how to design, implement, and assess play-based learning experiences that are developmentally appropriate and engaging for young learners.
