Infants and Toddlers at Play

Mary Benson McMullen, PhD, is professor of early childhoodeducation at Indiana University (IU), where she has been on faculty since 1993.She received a BS from Michigan State University and earned MS and PhD degreesin child development from Florida State University. During and after hergraduate education, she worked as a teacher of infants, toddlers, andpreschoolers and then as an early childhood program director, before acceptingher position at IU. At IU, she teaches courses to preservice and in-serviceearly childhood teaching professionals, as well as to doctoral students whoplan to become early childhood teacher education scholars. Mary’s primaryresearch interests involve factors that influence quality early care andeducation for infants and toddlers; the healthy overall growth, development,learning, and well-being of young children (birth through age 5); teachingbeliefs and practices across cultures and contexts; and factors that influenceand ensure the well-being of professionals who care for young children. She haspublished dozens of articles for both research and teaching journals, as wellas numerous book chapters. She is coeditor of the 2019 book The Wiley Handbook of Early Childhood Careand Education. Mary lives in Bloomington, Indiana, where she and her husbandof 40 years raised their three sons.Dylan Brody (they/them), MSEd, is a doctoralstudent at the University of Georgia. They are currently the graduate researchassistant for the Department of Educational Theory and Practice, with a focuson critical studies. Dylan began working as a full-time teacher with infantsand toddlers in 2010 and fell deeply in love with the complexity of teachingyoung children. They worked collaboratively with a coteacher in a setting thatutilizes a continuity of care model, providing Dylan the space and supportneeded to build intimate and meaningful connections with children and theirfamilies over the course of a three-year cycle. This time allowed them tocreate a more deeply reflective teaching practice and mindful rapport withfamilies through daily moments of trust building. Dylan’s primary research andteaching interests focus on ethics, equity, critical theory, mindfulness, andadvocacy for fellow teachers who experience marginalization. They prioritizecare practices and policies that allow all members of the community to feelsafer to be themselves and challenge the barriers in place that might preventsuccess for all. Dylan hopes to work more closely in the future with earlychildhood teachers in the LGBTQ+ community and to further advocate for transvisibility and representation in the field. Dylan currently lives in Athens,Georgia, with their beloved cat, Bean.

This book is an invitation to discuss play materials asthe “right stuff” for supporting whole child development and well-being. Itoffers developmental snapshots of the four stages of infancy, lists ofsuggested play materials and books appropriate for each stage, and concreteguidance on how and why to use these resources with infants and toddlers,making it the perfect guide for infant and toddler teachers and families.  —DianeM. Horm, George Kaiser Family Foundation Endowed Chair and Director of the EarlyChildhood Education Institute (ECEI), University of Oklahoma-TulsaThis is a wonderfuloverview of how to support children from birth to age 3 with a rich selectionof developmentally appropriate play materials. Each idea invites teachers toengage the hearts and minds of young learners thoughtfully and responsively. —Peter L. Mangione, Senior Director of Early ChildhoodStrategic Initiatives, WestEdUtilize this enlightening book and youwill experience much joy with children! It offers a full range of practicalplay strategies, unique materials, and positive outcomes most appropriate forhealthy human development. Beautifully written and illustrated, this book is anextraordinary resource for anyone seeking inspiring approaches to play and nurturinghappier, more well-balanced children.—Walter F. Drew, Founder and Executive Director,Institute for Self Active Education and Dr. Drew’s ToysMcMullen and Brody offer areflective and reader-friendly array of play materials, activities, andpractical suggestions for infant and toddler teachers that inspires qualityinteractions and teaching practices. Helpful appendices include highlights ofearly development, children’s books that correspond to developmental interestsand needs, and suggestions for further reading. This is an excellent resourcefor new teachers! —Susan L. Recchia, Professor Emeritus, Early Childhoodand Special Education, Teachers College, Columbia University This thoughtfully crafted book outlinesthe learning that happens during play for very young children, providingreaders with the perfect balance of developmental reasoning and applicationstrategies for immediate use. I will be using this book in my trainings forinfant and toddler teachers going forward. —Jessi Beedle, Infant/Toddler Early Childhood EducationSpecialist, Early Childhood ConnectionsMcMullen and Brody offer clear-eyedexplanations of the what and how of materialsfor supporting learning and development. Notably, they also establish why theseopen-ended play materials and interactions are important across all areas ofdevelopment for infants, toddlers, and twos. —Nancy File, Professor Emerita, University ofWisconsin-Milwaukee

• Introduction Part 1: EssentialQuestionsChapter1: Who? Children from Birth to Age 3Chapter2: Why? Supporting Learning, Development, and Well-BeingChapter3: How? The Role of TeachersChapter4: What? Curating Play Materials for Very Young ChildrenInYour Words  Part 2: Cognitive Learningand DevelopmentChapter5: Play Materials That Help Me Construct Knowledge and UnderstandingChapter6: Play Materials That Facilitate My Thinking and Problem-Solving SkillsChapter7: Play Materials That Inspire My Approaches to LearningInYour Words  Part 3: Social andEmotional Learning and DevelopmentChapter8: Play Materials That Help Me Understand Myself and OthersChapter9: Play Materials That Encourage Me to Express Myself CreativelyChapter10: Play Materials That Connect Me to Nature and ScienceInYour Words  Part 4: Physical Learningand Development Chapter11: Play Materials That Help Me Develop My Gross Motor SkillsChapter12: Play Materials That Enhance My Fine Motor SkillsChapter13: Play Materials That Teach Me About My Body in Space InYour Words  Final Thoughts Appendix A: Highlights ofLearning, Development, and Positive Well-Being  Appendix B: On theBookshelf References  Resources  Index Acknowledgments   About the Authors