Acting Out!

Current policies in the early childhood field ask teachers to treat children as though they exist from the neck up—even though research clearly demonstrates that the mind-body connection is vital to development. Rae Pica, founder and director of Rae Pica Keynotes & Consulting and author of the Moving and Learning series, advocates for active learning, not only because it’s developmentally appropriate but because doing so promotes a calmer, friendlier, and less challenging learning environment.

Section I provides theory, research, and language to advocate for active learning. Section II offers suggestions on how to update learning environments, and Rae offers some of her own past missteps in hopes that readers will be able to learn from her mistakes. Section III contains 200 ready-to-use movement activities that can be easily implemented into the day. Most require no materials, and every activity includes a “Curriculum Connection,” so readers can understand and clearly explain why the children aren’t “just playing.”

*Winner in the Midwest Book Awards 2020 (Education category)