What better time to play than in the summer, when the sun is out, the water is warm, and free time seems endless? Well, as teacher consultant Greg Yoder points out in this clip from his professional development session, play should be a priority year round. Greg Yoder explains why in this video:

• Be encouraging and not judgmental. Let kids make their own mistakes and learn from them. Don’t interfere too much.
• Make wise choices in toy selection. Choose toys that allow kids to use their imagination. Some great examples include building blocks, dress up clothes, toy kitchen sets, toy cars with race tracks, and more.
• Limit all screen time. Many child experts say kids should not have any screen time before the age of two, and very little thereafter.
• Read aloud to children daily. The most important thing we can do to help a child read is to help them develop a love for storytelling and reading. We can do this by reading aloud to them daily.
• Be playful with word usage. Teach kids the nuances of language while playing word games. You can do this while driving in the car, shopping at the grocery store, doing dishes at home, or during other daily tasks.
• Be playful. When your child is having fun, that's the best time for learning

• Expansive Classrooms: Taking Learning Outside from Edutopia
  
• Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul by Stuart Brown