What do you think?
Rate this book
Big Body Play: Why Boisterous, Vigorous, and Very Physical Play Is Essential to Children's Development and Learning
“Big body play”—the sometimes rowdy, always very physical running, rolling, climbing, tagging, jumping, grabbing, and wrestling that most children love and many adults try to shut down—can and should be an integral part of every early childhood setting. Drawing from evidence-based practice and the latest research, this book explains the multitude of benefits of big body play for young children’s social-emotional, cognitive, and physical development. Also learn how to organize the physical environment, set rules and policies, and supervise the play.
112 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
6 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 6, 2011
I wrote it, so of course I think it's marvelous :)
February 17, 2015
After seeing this reviewed by NAEYC I want to read this. She is also author of "Essential Touch: Meeting the needs of Young Children"
Since I am also a music educator this responce to Frances Q & A on http://www.naeyc.org/event/big-body-play We can use music to give chidren safe ways to regulate their Big Body Play safely and still get the most out of it.
As an educator with a specialization in Early Childhood and now a private music teacher I am interested in finding ways to implement this very idea of big body play into my music program. Radical to most in my field. I take kids outside and we jumprope to a metronome or bounce a basketball to the beat or even draw the staff with chalk on the driveway and take turns running to the note that's been called out. In one lesson I can teach the 7 tempos to a young child. This can take years without the big body play aspect. Retention of information is better with whole body movement! Is anyone else doing this in a music program?
"Everyone benefits when big body play is accepted as developmental and is supervised by knowledgeable adults. Big Body Play is a wonderful resource, a straightforward guide to assist teachers in understanding and promoting rough-and-tumble play. Such play is one of the first steps children take in development of the physical skills they will need to be physically active throughout life."
— Stephen Sanders, author of Active for Life: Developmentally Appropriate Movement Programs for Young Children
Since I am also a music educator this responce to Frances Q & A on http://www.naeyc.org/event/big-body-play We can use music to give chidren safe ways to regulate their Big Body Play safely and still get the most out of it.
As an educator with a specialization in Early Childhood and now a private music teacher I am interested in finding ways to implement this very idea of big body play into my music program. Radical to most in my field. I take kids outside and we jumprope to a metronome or bounce a basketball to the beat or even draw the staff with chalk on the driveway and take turns running to the note that's been called out. In one lesson I can teach the 7 tempos to a young child. This can take years without the big body play aspect. Retention of information is better with whole body movement! Is anyone else doing this in a music program?
"Everyone benefits when big body play is accepted as developmental and is supervised by knowledgeable adults. Big Body Play is a wonderful resource, a straightforward guide to assist teachers in understanding and promoting rough-and-tumble play. Such play is one of the first steps children take in development of the physical skills they will need to be physically active throughout life."
— Stephen Sanders, author of Active for Life: Developmentally Appropriate Movement Programs for Young Children
July 12, 2013
This is an excellent look at what big body play is and is not, why it's necessary and not just for physical development, and how to safely and appropriately incorporate it into your classroom curriculum. It also offers advice on how it can meet state standards for curriculum, how to approach co-workers and parents who have concerns about big body play, and some suggestions on activities. My only grumble was that I would have liked more information on big body play and different cultures; it looks primarily at the US culture, touching only briefly on others. Other than that, this is an excellent resource for teachers. Carlson has an easy style that never patronizes or condescends and gives lots of examples.
I borrowed this from my school's staff library.
I borrowed this from my school's staff library.
February 18, 2016
Big Body Play supports my observations as an early childhood professional for over forty years. Children need to move, to go outdoors and get fresh air and learn to use the big muscles in their bodies. Research now shows that cognitive learning increases when children are given time to play using the large muscles in their bodies.
Big Body Play gives insight into research and how to keep children safe and still let them have the opportunities to climb, roll, run, walk and crawl daily to help them develop. When children play rough and tumble they should be smiling and happy and enjoying the playtime. This is the difference between aggressive play situations where one or more of the children are unhappy so we as adults need to structure Big Body Play.
Big Body Play gives insight into research and how to keep children safe and still let them have the opportunities to climb, roll, run, walk and crawl daily to help them develop. When children play rough and tumble they should be smiling and happy and enjoying the playtime. This is the difference between aggressive play situations where one or more of the children are unhappy so we as adults need to structure Big Body Play.
February 5, 2012
Explains the importance of big play - running, jumping, roughhousing, etc. - which helps kids to learn their limits, solve problems, and learn to read social cues. And how to encourage it safely. Covers how to tell when big play crosses from play into the hurtful play and when to intervene. This is a small text-book and the chapters tend to get a bit repetitve. Yet a quick read.
October 24, 2012
Easy to read and enjoyable. I learned a lot! I did not know why physical play was so important until this book.
July 15, 2020
Big body play. What is that and why is it important for our youngest learners? How can early childhood educators, and those who work with children, build the skills required for this type of play and reinforce the positive effects of utilizing these activities inside and outside of the classroom. This book answers all of these questions and more!
Big body play is just what it is sounds like. It is the vigorous, active play that children seek to involve themselves in using their whole bodies, specifically their gross motor muscles. Big body play is possible for infants, young children, and a spectrum of children beyond their early childhood years. However, it can be represented differently; from the tumbling and rolling of toddlers to the hands-on play of older children. But often this play can be seen as aggressive or boisterous, which carry negative connotations for those who are with young children. So, how do we encourage and incorporate this type of play and explore its' benefits. That is what Frances M. Carlson seeks to answers and show in the book Big Body Play: Why Boisterous, Vigorous, and Very Physical Play is Essential to Children's Development and Learning.
This book explore the definition of big body play, its' benefits to child development and the classroom, and how to incorporate big body play into the classroom. It actively seeks to change the mindset that vigorous play is negative and leads to aggression. The foundations of early childhood studies and the value of child development skills during this type of play is expressed throughout the book and helps to contribute the positive mindset of this type of activity. In fact, the book has such a profound affect on the early childhood field that national organizations, such as the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) are conducting book study groups to promote the use of this book and this type of play in the classroom.
I HIGHLY recommend this book for both families and those who work with young children. It is mind-changing and the wording makes it very easy to digest the more detailed references and benefits of big body play. PLEASE PLEASE consider reading this book and promoting big body play in your life!
Big body play is just what it is sounds like. It is the vigorous, active play that children seek to involve themselves in using their whole bodies, specifically their gross motor muscles. Big body play is possible for infants, young children, and a spectrum of children beyond their early childhood years. However, it can be represented differently; from the tumbling and rolling of toddlers to the hands-on play of older children. But often this play can be seen as aggressive or boisterous, which carry negative connotations for those who are with young children. So, how do we encourage and incorporate this type of play and explore its' benefits. That is what Frances M. Carlson seeks to answers and show in the book Big Body Play: Why Boisterous, Vigorous, and Very Physical Play is Essential to Children's Development and Learning.
This book explore the definition of big body play, its' benefits to child development and the classroom, and how to incorporate big body play into the classroom. It actively seeks to change the mindset that vigorous play is negative and leads to aggression. The foundations of early childhood studies and the value of child development skills during this type of play is expressed throughout the book and helps to contribute the positive mindset of this type of activity. In fact, the book has such a profound affect on the early childhood field that national organizations, such as the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) are conducting book study groups to promote the use of this book and this type of play in the classroom.
I HIGHLY recommend this book for both families and those who work with young children. It is mind-changing and the wording makes it very easy to digest the more detailed references and benefits of big body play. PLEASE PLEASE consider reading this book and promoting big body play in your life!
Read
October 19, 2024A lil bit of gendered language/ideas that haven't aged well, but otherwise an excellent quick and concise read about the importance of big body play and concrete ideas on implementing it. Also has resources for parents, staff training, documentation, etc in the appendices that are easy to reproduce and does the work for you.
Read
March 28, 20121 copy
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews