{"id":28,"date":"2023-01-11T17:13:17","date_gmt":"2023-01-11T17:13:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.usnh.edu\/playandlearning\/chapter\/plays-connection-to-learning-development-and-the-brain\/"},"modified":"2026-01-08T16:14:54","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T16:14:54","slug":"plays-connection-to-learning-development-and-the-brain","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.usnh.edu\/playandlearning\/chapter\/plays-connection-to-learning-development-and-the-brain\/","title":{"raw":"Ch. 2 Play\u2019s Connection to Learning, Development, and the Brain","rendered":"Ch. 2 Play\u2019s Connection to Learning, Development, and the Brain"},"content":{"raw":"<p style=\"text-align: center\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-214 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/pressbooks.usnh.edu\/playandlearning\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/7\/files\/2023\/01\/ethan-hu-5WIqleHzOok-unsplash-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Two children building a snowperson\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" \/><\/p>\r\n<strong>READ FIRST<\/strong>- Read the selections below to start thinking about early learning, children's development, and how brain research informs our understanding of the importance of play during the early years.\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Read \"Brain Research\" (p. 10) in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.communityplaythings.com\/~\/media\/files\/cpus\/library\/training-resources\/booklets\/wisdom-of-play.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Wisdom of Play: How Children Learn to Make Sense of the World<\/a> by Community Playthings (~1 minute read)<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Read \"Play and Development\" (pp. 8-9) in <a href=\"https:\/\/mcm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/MCMResearchSummary1.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Power of Play: A Research Summary on Play and Learning<\/a> by Dr. Rachel E. White for Minnesota Children's Museum (~4 minute read)<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Read pp. 33-39 from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.caphr.org\/system\/files\/2025-08\/uploads\/file\/nh_early_learning_standards.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">New Hampshire Early Learning Standards<\/a> (~10 minute read)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<strong>CHOOSE ONE<\/strong>- Select at least one of the articles below to deepen your understanding of the importance of play to children's learning and development.\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.edutopia.org\/article\/key-aspects-play-early-education\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Key Aspects of Play in Early Education<\/a> by Amanda Armstrong (~ 5 minute read)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nIn this article from Edutopia, Armstrong shares the importance of supporting play as a teacher of young children by thinking about your personal play perspective and how this might influence the ways you engage children in play.\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.naeyc.org\/resources\/pubs\/yc\/may2017\/case-brain-science-guided-play\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Case of Brain Science and Guided Play: A Developing Story<\/a> by Brenna Hassinger-Das, Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, and Roberta Michnick Golinkoff (~15 minute read)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nIn this article from NAEYC, Hassinger-Das, Hirsh-Pasek, and Golinkoff share play scenarios from early childhood classrooms that illustrate key points about brain science and the importance of guided play.\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/ed\/2014\/08\/06\/336361277\/scientists-say-childs-play-helps-build-a-better-brain\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Scientists Say Child's Play Helps Build a Better Brain<\/a> by Jon Hamilton (~ 6 minute read)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nIn this piece from National Public Radio (NPR), Hamilton highlights research from Neuroscientist Jaak Panksepp. Panksepp's work focuses on how rats play and potential links to children's play.\r\n\r\n<strong>CHOOSE ONE<\/strong>- Select at least one of the videos below to watch to learn from experts from the field about why play supports children's development and learning.\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/cANwtbOeLWU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">How Play is Learning<\/a> by Defending the Early Years (~2 minutes)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nIn this video,\u00a0 several early childhood teachers share their thoughts about the importance of play to young children's learning.\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/developingchild.harvard.edu\/resources\/play-in-early-childhood-the-role-of-play-in-any-setting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Role of Play in Any Setting<\/a> by Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University (~8 minutes)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nIn this video, experts from early childhood highlight how play supports key aspects of children's development.\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/developingchild.harvard.edu\/resources\/building-babies-brains-through-play-mini-parenting-master-class\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Building Babies' Brains Through Play: Mini Parenting Master Class<\/a> by Jack P. Shonkoff (~5 minutes)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nIn this video, Shonkoff discusses the importance of play interactions of care givers and infants.","rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-214 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/pressbooks.usnh.edu\/playandlearning\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/7\/files\/2023\/01\/ethan-hu-5WIqleHzOok-unsplash-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Two children building a snowperson\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>READ FIRST<\/strong>&#8211; Read the selections below to start thinking about early learning, children&#8217;s development, and how brain research informs our understanding of the importance of play during the early years.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Read &#8220;Brain Research&#8221; (p. 10) in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.communityplaythings.com\/~\/media\/files\/cpus\/library\/training-resources\/booklets\/wisdom-of-play.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Wisdom of Play: How Children Learn to Make Sense of the World<\/a> by Community Playthings (~1 minute read)<\/li>\n<li>Read &#8220;Play and Development&#8221; (pp. 8-9) in <a href=\"https:\/\/mcm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/MCMResearchSummary1.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Power of Play: A Research Summary on Play and Learning<\/a> by Dr. Rachel E. White for Minnesota Children&#8217;s Museum (~4 minute read)<\/li>\n<li>Read pp. 33-39 from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.caphr.org\/system\/files\/2025-08\/uploads\/file\/nh_early_learning_standards.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">New Hampshire Early Learning Standards<\/a> (~10 minute read)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>CHOOSE ONE<\/strong>&#8211; Select at least one of the articles below to deepen your understanding of the importance of play to children&#8217;s learning and development.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.edutopia.org\/article\/key-aspects-play-early-education\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Key Aspects of Play in Early Education<\/a> by Amanda Armstrong (~ 5 minute read)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In this article from Edutopia, Armstrong shares the importance of supporting play as a teacher of young children by thinking about your personal play perspective and how this might influence the ways you engage children in play.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.naeyc.org\/resources\/pubs\/yc\/may2017\/case-brain-science-guided-play\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Case of Brain Science and Guided Play: A Developing Story<\/a> by Brenna Hassinger-Das, Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, and Roberta Michnick Golinkoff (~15 minute read)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In this article from NAEYC, Hassinger-Das, Hirsh-Pasek, and Golinkoff share play scenarios from early childhood classrooms that illustrate key points about brain science and the importance of guided play.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/ed\/2014\/08\/06\/336361277\/scientists-say-childs-play-helps-build-a-better-brain\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Scientists Say Child&#8217;s Play Helps Build a Better Brain<\/a> by Jon Hamilton (~ 6 minute read)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In this piece from National Public Radio (NPR), Hamilton highlights research from Neuroscientist Jaak Panksepp. Panksepp&#8217;s work focuses on how rats play and potential links to children&#8217;s play.<\/p>\n<p><strong>CHOOSE ONE<\/strong>&#8211; Select at least one of the videos below to watch to learn from experts from the field about why play supports children&#8217;s development and learning.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/cANwtbOeLWU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">How Play is Learning<\/a> by Defending the Early Years (~2 minutes)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In this video,\u00a0 several early childhood teachers share their thoughts about the importance of play to young children&#8217;s learning.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/developingchild.harvard.edu\/resources\/play-in-early-childhood-the-role-of-play-in-any-setting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Role of Play in Any Setting<\/a> by Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University (~8 minutes)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In this video, experts from early childhood highlight how play supports key aspects of children&#8217;s development.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/developingchild.harvard.edu\/resources\/building-babies-brains-through-play-mini-parenting-master-class\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Building Babies&#8217; Brains Through Play: Mini Parenting Master Class<\/a> by Jack P. Shonkoff (~5 minutes)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In this video, Shonkoff discusses the importance of play interactions of care givers and infants.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"menu_order":2,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-28","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"part":23,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.usnh.edu\/playandlearning\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/28","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.usnh.edu\/playandlearning\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.usnh.edu\/playandlearning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.usnh.edu\/playandlearning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.usnh.edu\/playandlearning\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/28\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":193,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.usnh.edu\/playandlearning\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/28\/revisions\/193"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.usnh.edu\/playandlearning\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/23"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.usnh.edu\/playandlearning\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/28\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.usnh.edu\/playandlearning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.usnh.edu\/playandlearning\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=28"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.usnh.edu\/playandlearning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=28"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.usnh.edu\/playandlearning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=28"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}