Frances M. Carlson is a former early childhood education program administrator. For over 20 years, she worked in this role at a variety of agencies, companies, and institutions, including the US Department of the Army, the Internal Revenue Service, Wachovia (succeeded by Wells Fargo), Sheltering Arms, Turner Broadcasting System (via Bright Horizons Family Solutions), and Chattahoochee Technical College. She successfully led four programs through the NAEYC Early Learning Program Quality Assessment and Accreditation process.In 2002, she began teaching early childhood care and education to students pursuing associate degrees at Chattahoochee Technical College. In that position, Frances also successfully led the college's associate degree program through the NAEYC Higher Education Accreditation process, making it the first accredited associate degree program in Georgia. After teaching adults for 14 years, she returned to administration as associate dean of professional services and design, a role she held until her retirement in January 2024.In addition to the first edition of this book (NAEYC, 2011), Frances authored the book Essential Touch: Meeting the Needs of Young Children (NAEYC, 2006) as well as numerous articles in a variety of early childhood education publications, including Child Care Bridges, Exchange Press, Interaction, Teaching Young Children, and Young Children.She also directed and produced two videos,Expect Male Involvement: Recruiting and Retaining Men in Early Childhood Education (Chattahoochee Technical College, 2009) and An Afternoon with the Experts: Dan Gartrell on Guidance (Chattahoochee Technical College, 2014).She has presented keynotes, trainings, and sessions across the country and the world, including at association conferences hosted by NAEYC, the Professional Development Institute, the Southern Early Childhood Association, and the Georgia Association for the Education of Young Children.Frances loves to spend time with her family, and she especially loves to camp, hike, paddle, bake, garden, and listen to her vinyl collection with her husband, Clay, and their 14-year-old Norwegian elkhound, Freya. Frances and Clay have three adult children, twin sons Adam and Sam and daughter Catherine (Caty); a daughter-in-love, Morgan; a son-in-love, Daniel; and one truly grand grandson, Lucas.For more, visit her website at www.bigbodyplay.com.

Big Body Play is a powerful reminder that active, joyful, and physically engaging play is not optional in early childhood—it is essential to healthy development, learning, and well-being. This book is an invaluable resource for educators and caregivers alike.—Stephanie Morris, Former CEO, SHAPE America (Society of Health and Physical Educators)<We say we want strong, smart, sociable children, yet we restrict the very play that builds those skills. Frances Carlson beautifully details why big body play matters and how early childhood educators can make it happen.—Rae Pica, Early Childhood Education Consultant and Author, Rae Pica Keynotes and ConsultingBig Body Play reframes children's rough-and-tumble movements—not as behavior to manage but as child-directed learning. This second edition shows how jumping, climbing, and physical risk taking develop confidence, social negotiation skills, and natural engagement with biomechanics and spatial reasoning.—Anne Karabon, Wendell and Marlys Thompson Director, School of Education, Counseling, and Human Development, and Associate Professor, Early Childhood Education, South Dakota State UniversityThis resource does a great job helping educators and families interpret and support physical play behaviors, an important developmental topic. Big Body Play will help bring about a contextual shift in children's play.—Garnett Booker, Kindergarten Teacher, Arlington Public Schools

• About the AuthorAbout the ContributorsAcknowledgmentsIntroductionChapter 1: What Is Big Body Play?Chapter 2: Play, Physical Activity, and Big Body Play in ParticularChapter 3: The BenefitsChapter 4: Debunking Myths and MisperceptionsChapter 5: Acknowledging and Breaking Down BiasesChapter 6: The Teacher's RoleChapter 7: Adapting Big Body PlayChapter 8: Community Building with Educators and FamiliesReferencesIndex