Helps teachers and soon-to-be teachers learn how play as a form of communication can be adapted to the classroom.Play, Development, and Early Education,challenges the reader to discover what play is and how to incorporate it into a curriculum for children from toddlerhood through the primary grades. Utilizing three major ideasthe quality of play in early childhood, play as a means of self-expression, and play as a channel of communication to achieving social sensethe authors examine the beliefs, perspectives, and theories relating to play and what effects culture, media and technology have on play. In addition, the text addresses the role of parents in supporting and elaborating play, the direct connections between research and play practice, and the value of play in relation to the total development (cognitive, affective, emotional, social, and physical) of all children.Play, Early childhood, child development.Appropriate for teachers and other professionals that work with children from toddler through primary grades. Also appropriate for those studying to work in the field of early childhood education.