DOUBLE TAP TO ZOOM WITH PHONE OR TABLET Introduction Let’s Play: (Un)Curriculum Early Learning Adventures is a follow-up to our 2012 book, Let Them Play: An Early Learning (Un)Curriculum, and is intended for early learning professionals and families who want to support hands-on, child-led, play-based learning. Let’s Play offers up simple, engaging, and learning-rich play experiences for young children. It helps adults accustomed to rigidly structured, adult-led early learning curriculums ease into an (un)curriculum that supports good old-fashioned play and trusts kids as learners. Easing into an (un)curric- ulum is important, because for many people, the idea of giving up control and letting children lead learning is very scary. Think of the following information as the book’s FAQ page. If an (un)curriculum is new to you, the FAQs will bring you up to speed. What is an (un)curriculum? An (un)curriculum is hands-on, child-led, play-based learning supported by the preparation, encouragement, and facilitation of an adult. Here’s some additional information about an (un)curriculum: • An (un)curriculum is supported by brain development research. (Un)curriculums are built on research about what young brains need, how they work, and how they learn. • An (un)curriculum nurtures the individual child. Good early learning is not so much about wooden blocks, toy trucks, baby dolls, finger­paint, and picture books as it is about relationships. It’s about the emotional environment as opposed to the physical environment. It’s about COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL xiii