Andria Englehardt One of the most rewarding moments in early childhood happens when children are deeply immersed in play. Whether they are building block towers, negotiating roles in dramatic play or exploring the natural world around them, these moments reveal far more than play. They showcase learning in action through problem solving, collaboration, emotional regulation,…

Andria Englehardt Have you ever watched children transform a pile of cardboard tubes, shells, and scarves into something completely unexpected? They could turn them into a rocket ship, a puppet theater, or even a city. Loose parts are everyday materials with no predetermined purpose. When placed in a child’s hand they become powerful tools for…

Andria Englehardt Walk into any preschool classroom and you will most likely see children engaged playing, building towers, negotiating roles in dramatic play, or experimenting with water and sand. To an outside observer, it may look like “just play.” But for educators, these moments show rich opportunities for learning across cognitive, social-emotional, and physical domains.…