The Gift of Play: How Grandparents Enhance the Lives of Young Children
By Judith Lieberman Van Hoorn (M.A. Columbia TC ’65)
New and experienced grandparents will delight in this light-hearted book filled with charming stories, colorful family photos, insights, and tips. Dr. Judith Van Hoorn weaves grandparents’ wisdom and favorite stories with professional insights to show how play enriches the lives of grandchildren, grandparents, and the whole family. Grandparent and grandchild play supports development and learning, deepens loving relationships, and creates lasting memories. Practical tips help grandparents discover new ideas for playing both in person and online. Grandparents’ real-life stories and photos illuminate each chapter, from reading a favorite book to a toddler online, to speeding toy cars down ramp, to taking neighborhood nature walks. Play is a time for grandparents to recapture their childlike sense of wonder, a time to revel in spontaneous play, and special time to feel and express love.
Judith Van Hoorn Ph.D. is Professor Emerita at the University of the Pacific. She has co-authored numerous articles and books on children’s play, including Looking at Children’s Play and Play at the Center of the Curriculum, the international bestselling textbook on play. She is a recipient of the American Psychological Association Presidential Citation given to outstanding psychologists, and an active member of groups working to improve the lives of young children and their families.
judithvanhoorn.com