Play in Early Childhood: The Role of Play in Any Setting

The Center for the Developing Child at Harvard University is an excellent resource for information on many aspects of early childhood. In a recent video, entitled “Play in Early Childhood: The Role of Play in Any Setting,” the creators address the science behind “three core principles that can guide what society needs to do to help children and families thrive.”

These principles include “supporting responsive relationships, strengthening core life skills, and reducing sources of stress.”

They recommend play as a means for addressing all three, and describe play as a tool to “foster children’s resilience to hardship.” Through the complex interactions of play, children build their brains and learn skills that will last a lifetime.

Watch the video and leave a comment about your impressions. How do you see this important information impacting your day-to-day practice as an early intervention professional or as a parent.

The ICC-Recommended Early Start Personnel Manual (ESPM) describes core knowledge and role-specific competencies needed for early intervention service provision, incorporating current research and evidence in the field of early intervention. To access the ESPM, CLICK HERE.

This resource is related to the following ESPM knowledge-level competencies:

Core Knowledge (CK):
- CK2: The role of primary social and emotional relationships as the foundation for early learning.
- CK5: The importance of play as context, method, and outcome of learning.
Individualized Family Service Plan Development and Review (IFSP-i):
- IFSP-i2 (EIS): Understands the individual nature of child learning styles and the importance of adapting intervention strategies.