This book explains why children need to play and offers practical guidance on how to best support children’s development through play. This new edition has been fully updated to reflect changes to the curriculum and early years qualifications and features new chapters on pretend play and the impact of parenting on child development. Addressing practitioners key concerns through a Q&A format, the book explores why children behave as they do at different ages and stages in their development and shows how play can complement and enhance their social, emotional, perceptual motor and intellectual development.
Christine Macintyre is a Fellow of Edinburgh University where she was Senior Lecturer in the Department of Child Education. She is currently involved in professional development work in the UK and abroad. She has published over 20 books in the field of early years education and special educational needs.