This practical book focuses on teaching young children through a play curriculum. The authors provide an instructional model for the play curriculum by focusing on four fundamental questions. What is the definition of play and the play curriculum? What tools and means are used to assess play development? How is a play classroom organized? What is the pedagogical role of the teacher in the play process? Based on developmentally-appropriate theory and research, the text encourages the application of concepts through authentic classroom examples and vignettes.