Just Play: Inspiring Adult Play in Early Childhood Education
by Miriam Beloglovsky
Miriam Beloglovsky is the coauthor of the best-selling, award-winning book, Loose Parts series.
I found this book last year. I was so engaged in every page that I brought it to my colleagues at Educators for Peaceful Classrooms and Communities. What resonated most with me from this book is its discussion of current trends in early education. The author highlights the emphasis on meeting standards, structured lesson plans, and teacher-directed weekly plans. Her central message is that we must not lose sight of the joy and child-centered play that should be at the heart of our work. We need to be with children where they are—and truly enjoy it.
“...well-meaning educators can focus too much on performance standards and expectations instead of the children themselves. For example, this may happen when a child is not sitting still and listening or completing an adult-led activity and the teacher removes the child instead of changing the way the activity is conducted.”
When you read this book, you will reclaim the joy of play for yourself and new deep connections with the children in your program. Play is crucial in adulthood because it fosters adaptiveness, creativity, role rehearsal, and mind-body integration. Just Play specifically talks about adults' play and explains how the adults' shift toward creativity can influence children. If adults can reharness their playful capacities and reap all of play’s benefits, they will be equipped to work with children, design effective curricula, and understand children and increase empathy. Play is affirming because it allows us to enter a natural, safe, and caring environment in which we freely explore our inner thinking and desires. The book guides educators, administrators, and faculty through a series of comprehensive steps that will shift their thinking surrounding adult play.
So, with two of my colleagues, we created a workshop to share the joy contained in this beautiful book. I will share some of the treasures we found.
“When we embrace play and playfulness, we also engage in more fluid, flexible, and imaginative thinking.” — Miriam Beloglovsky
“Humans are born curious. We are inspired to learn, master new skills, and cultivate talents with agency and resiliency. It is also clear that a lack of play can crush the human spirit.” — Miriam Beloglovsky
Along with every topic, the author provides a Just Play Challenge. These are activities that each of us can try to increase our comfort with adult play.
Enjoy the book and share it with others and most of all JUST PLAY!
This article is part of our Newsletter 2025 Issue 3. See all articles.
