Explain the perspectives of children's play and development through Gopnik, Maria Montessori values, and research by Mari Riojas-Cortez. I provide three ways in which parents can interact with their children to increase their curiosity and develop skills.

1. Importance of Play in
Children’s Development
By: Edith Arriaga Ramirez

2. Perspectives on Play and Development
• Gopnik, Meltzoff, Kuhl
• Maria Montessori
• Mari Riojas-Cortez

3. “Scientist in the Crib” (Gopnik, Meltzoff,
Kuhl)
• “When children do experiments, we call it “getting into
everything” but we’ve found that playing around is really a kind
of experimental research program.”
• Emphasize how young children develop and how they gain
knowledge as they age.
• Children are testing hypothesis from what they see, hear, touch,
smell and hear.

4. Maria Montessori (1870 – 1952)
• “As soon as children find something that interests
them, they lose their instability and learn to
concentrate.”
• Children have scientific minds.
• Materials prompt growth.
• Four planes of development: 0-24 years old
development

5. Mari Riojas-Cortez on “Preschooler’ Funds of
Knowledge Displayed Through Sociodramatic Play
Episodes in a Bilingual Classroom” (2001)
Emphasized how culture and sociodramatic play enable
children to demonstrate their knowledge and skills
about their culture and beliefs taught by their parents.

6. Creatives way to play and
interact with children at
home.

7. Tik Tok accounts on Children’s
Development
Tik Tok is a great platform for mom’s
looking for ideas to entertain children
but at the same time how they learn
through those plays. They offer many
tips in regards of play, disciple and
how you should be interacting with
your child in a given situation such as
a tantrum.
Username Accounts:
• Ashleyfurr26
• Baby.toddler.teacher
• @ot4kids

8. Activity: Ice painting Process: Mix food coloring and
water and put it in the freezer.
Promotes skills such as:
• Fine motor
• Color identification
• Problem solving
• Inspire creativity
@ot4kids

9. Activity: Cut paper plate with scissors
Promotes skills such as:
• Builds hand strength
• Develops hand-eye
• Increases bilateral
• Improves focus and attention
@ot4kids

10. Activity: Going for a walk
Name the objects, animals, surroundings for the
child to expand their vocabulary and learn from
their community.

11. References
• Barnett, D., & Clements, M. (2001). The Scientist in the Crib: Minds,
Brains and How Children Learn. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease,
189(3), 195-196. doi:10.1097/00005053-200103000-00011
• Riojas-Cortéz, M. (2000). Mexican American Preschoolers Create Stories:
Sociodramatic Play in a Dual Language Classroom. Bilingual Research
Journal, 24(3), 295-307. doi:10.1080/15235882.2000.10162767
• Lillard, Angeline. “Playful Learning and Montessori Education.” American
Journal of Plays, no. Winter, 2013.