Explorations Early Learning

Promoting play, defending childhood, and empowering caregivers.

Explorations Early Learning

Building Brains With Hands-On Play

06/24/2025 | Building Brains With Hands-On Play

Date And Time: 06/24/2025 7:00pm Central Time
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Young children learn best through hands-on, up-close-and-personal, full-contact interactions with the world. The problem many caregivers have with such learning is that kids who fully engage the world often make a mess of things–a million blocks dumped on the floor, green paint on the floor, and muddy footprints on the carpet. Based on ideas from our book, Let Them Play, this session looks at why this type of play is integral to early learning, ideas for managing the mess, and tips to help caregivers support hands-on play.

$20.00 $16.00
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  • All sessions take place at 7:00pm Central Time, USA. (Eastern 8:00pm | Mountain 6:00pm | Pacific 5:00pm )
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Recordings of past live online training events are available for those interested in the topic but who do not need a training certificate. These recordings also include access to a resource page full of useful related links

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Building Brains With Hands-On Play
Contact Jeff About This Training
Training Topics

Description

Young children learn best through hands-on, up-close-and-personal, full-contact interactions with the world. The problem many caregivers have with such learning is that kids who fully engage the world often make a mess of things–a million blocks dumped on the floor, green paint on the floor, and muddy footprints on the carpet. Based on ideas from our book, Let Them Play, this session looks at why this type of play is integral to early learning, ideas for managing the mess, and tips to help caregivers support hands-on play.

Outcomes / Goals

Attendees will:

  • Understand why hands-on play is important for young children
  • Leave with tips and strategies for managing hands-on play
  • Acquire ideas for supporting hands-on play

Competency Area

  • Alabama | Learning Experiences And Enrichment / Child Development
  • Illinois | Curriculum Or Program Design
  • Michigan | Teaching And Learning
  • Missouri | Use A Broad Repertoire Of Teaching Skills And Strategies For Learning
  • Nebraska | Planning Learning Experiences And Curriculum
  • Oklahoma | Learning Environments And Curriculum
  • South Dakota | Learning Environments
  • Wisconsin | Learning Experiences, Strategies, And Curriculum
  • CDA | Advancing Children’s Physical And Intellectual Development

Clock Hours

Available in 60 and 90-minute formats

Agenda 

This is the breakdown for the 60-minute version of the session:

TopicTimeActivity
Introduction05 minutesMonologue
The Value Of Hands-On Play25 minutesDiscussion
Supporting And Managing Hands-On Play55 minutesDiscussion
Conclusion05 minutesMonologue

Related Resources

This session is based in part on content from my books:

  • Let Them Play
  • Let’s Play
  • Let’s All Play

Content Level

Beginner / Intermediate

Age Group Focus

  • Toddlers (12 months to 36 months)
  • Preschool (36 months to 5 years)
  • School Age (5 years to 12 years)
  • Adults

Target Audience

  • Family Child Care Providers
  • Child Care Center Teachers
  • Child Care Center Directors
  • Head Start Teachers
  • Head Start Administrators
  • Early Head Start Teachers
  • Service Coordination Staff
  • Technical Assistance Specialists
  • Home Visitors
  • Parents

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