The Gift of Playful Learning: A Guide for Educators

by M.Ed. Nadia Kenisha Bynoe, Angelique Thompson

Explore the power of play in early childhood classrooms! This teacher resource provides practical strategies that create playful learning opportunities for diverse students. From authors Kenisha Bynoe and Angelique Thompson, this book serves as a comprehensive guide to using play-based learning experiences to introduce curriculum content. With these useful strategies and tips, educators can create learning environments that support the diverse needs of learners and speak to multiple identities and lived experiences. Engage children in purposeful learning that is designed to provoke thought, curiosity, and wonder with the help of this book!

Genres: Education, Nonfiction

232 pages, Perfect Paperback

Published February 7, 2023

Reviews

[Laurel Mouland · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Gift of Playful Learning is an inspiring professional resource for educators who want to learn more about play based learning using a Culturally Relevant and Responsive framework. I was captivated by the countless pictures of learning opportunities offered in the book and scenarios of learners whose playful pursuits were deeply connected to learning. I was intrigued by each page and compelled to create an Invitation for Learning the next day in my classroom to enrich my French Immersion program. This is an accessible resource regardless of where you fall on the continuum of play. Through their planning templates, visual examples, and guiding frameworks, The Gift of Playful Learning offers a comprehensive guide to play-centric approaches for teaching and learning. While the resource is geared towards Pre Kindergarten to Grade 2 programs, the explicit strategies and tools offered are applicable to these grades and beyond. This resource includes a digital platform that provides planning templates, photos and additional ideas for program implementation indoors, outdoors, and virtually. The authors weave stories and experiences drawn from classrooms they have supported that highlight the realities educators face daily. The Gift of Playful Learning is a great guide for instruction that facilitates curriculum and assessment. This book provokes readers to shift their practice and embrace new possibilities that lead to transformation. The ideas shared are inspiring and easy to try, this is a must have book for your professional library!

[Lauren Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.


This book is a must read for educators and parents. As an educator of children for over a decade, I can’t recommend this book enough. The author frames the idea that play is a right, not a privilege. At first glance this might seem frivolous, but in reality it’s an essential part of childhood. Both authors do an excellent job citing sources and backing up their claims.

The book does an excellent job highlighting current pedagogy and its shortcomings on the framework of play.
Play is about creating a well rounded, life long learner. I enjoy that the book provides practical tips on how to center children in education, rather than centering work for the sake of work.

Bynoe and Thompson do a fantastic job tackling an inclusive in the classroom. Teaching inclusion early is very essential in education. Diversity, equality and inclusion are what keeps a classroom welcoming for all children. It allows each child to blossom and manifest their cultural traditions while learning.


The book was a quick read, but is worth reading again. The mention of loose parts in a classroom was fascinating. At first glance it seems like a large task, but with time it can be collected. This may be possible for educators in private schools or non traditional settings. Public school educators may find this to be very taxing.


I would love to see more for these authors in the future.

[Niki · Rating 2 out of 5]

A group of EY educators at my school selected The Gift of Playful Learning for a book study PLC. The book is "fine". There is nothing revolutionary in it, if anything it is covering ground that I feel most educators know. Additionally, we often felt that it wasn't an overly accurate representation of what would be possible in an average classroom, so it missed the mark on being a helpful guide to educators who want to incorporate more play/loose parts into their classroom. (i.e. The photographs of displays included in the book were almost comical to us!) I did appreciate the picture book connections and may use it as a resource for ideas when I need inspiration.

[Janet Lewis]

A brilliantly written book with insights on how play manifests learning. I was so thrilled to see a professional resource that finally highlights the importance of play but also how to offer a comprehensive program opportunities for learning that centers the lived experience of children. No matter the context, this book will support your understanding of learners and is applicable to any educator. I will be purchasing this gift for other friends and family in education.