A child's work: The importance of fantasy play
Vivian Gussin Paley

What an astonishing invention is this activity we call fantasy play. Are we really willing to let it disappear from our pre-schools and kindergartens? “I’m not inclined to encourage fantasy play any more if my teachers can’t handle it,” a pre-school director admitted recently.

The home corner
Mary Hohmann and David P. Weikart

The home corner supports both individual and cooperative play. Many children spend considerable time in the house area—stirring, filling, emptying, pouring, shaking, mixing, rolling, folding, zipping, buttoning, snapping, brushing, trying things on and taking them off.

Seeing is believing: Visible thought in dramatic play
Beth Hatcher and Karen Petty, PhD.

The home-living area in a busy childcare centre has hummed all afternoon. Three-year-old Jared busily packs several large purses full of play food and clothes, dons an oversized sport jacket, picks up some keys, and announces, "I'm going to the store. Do you want to come?"

Face painting
Always a hit with children (and adults!) Great if your summer fete is coming up. Copy the faces we have here, or design your own. When you've learnt how to paint some simple faces - check out our gallery of face painting ideas.