ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the idea that infants and toddlers are learning about themselves and the world everyday, and much of this learning occurs through play in and active exploration of their environment. The importance of play and how knowledge and skills are advanced through play experiences is clearly described. How caregivers can effectively create a curriculum out of play by giving children the freedom to play and explore however they wish, pursue their interests in whatever way is available and by providing the resources for all of this to happen is explained. Strategies for caregivers to observe children in play and learn about their competences, skills and understandings are described.
