The Way of Play outlines some practical ways to guide children through play to make them learning experiences, while not making it about that. The book has several steps adults can take to engage with children to help them grow emotionally..

I thought there were lots of practical how-tos, the book also delves into brain development and social/emotional learning. While I liked the more technical aspects, there may be parents reading it that may not - but it is easily glossed over if you prefer.

Many illustrations of activities and how they can achieve certain things. But also illustrations (literally pictures) of those activities and how they play out.

If you interact with children of all ages, this book could be a helpful tool for you..

I was given this book by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Another favorite parenting book! This should be recommended for any parent looking for new ways to connect with their children. It taught me to slow down during our play and let my child take control. Thank you for the ARC!

The Way of Play by Dr. Tina Bryson is a must-read for parents looking to connect with their children through the transformative power of play. Dr. Bryson expertly explains how play nurtures emotional regulation, fosters creativity, and strengthens the parent-child bond. The book offers practical tips and evidence-based insights, making it an invaluable resource for fostering cooperation and joy in everyday parenting. It's a refreshing, approachable guide that reminds us of the simplicity and importance of play in raising resilient, happy children

In this well-written, easily digested parents' guide to play, childhood experts give a detailed explanation of how and why grown ups should interact playfully with their kids. Siting such positive outcomes as emotion regulating, learning new skills, and empathizing with others; they give seven simple strategies that can turn playtime into an important and effective addition to the parenting toolbox.

As a parent, I love spending time with my kids, but when I can play with them and feel like I'm doing more than just making a connection, that's a win/win. That's what this book felt like: a way to take something that I think all parents do to some extent and elevate it to the next level. It makes an excellent case for the necessity of playing with our kids while also keeping it simple and extremely doable. The seven play strategies are laid out in a linear fashion and are well-defined and explained, with valuable information about what each strategy entails as well as its overall purpose. Then, the authors give step-by-step instructions for parents to implement the strategy in real-world, practical applications. Unlike some parenting books, it did not feel overwhelming or unrealistic. In fact, the authors to a great job of emphasizing the fact that their methods and suggestions are not an overnight, quick fix but rather a life long way of interacting positively and playfully with children to achieve desired results over time.

I found this book very straight forward to read and its advice and strategies actually implementable in my own home. I would recommend it to parents looking for ways to connect with their children and to anyone who is interested in how play can be used to help grow confident kids.

Just like "Whole Brained Child" and "No-Drama Discipline", this book will be the new MUST READ parenting book on everyone's shelf.

I had high hopes going into this, especially because I just finished reading No-Drama Discipline and this one definitely exceeded my expectations.

The chapters were broken down SO clearly and was so easy to read. Each "strategy" had its own chapter and my favorite part was the "step-by-step" section where there are easy to understand guidelines on exactly how to implement the strategies. This book has been SO extremely helpful and answered so many questions I had in my head. I will definitely be buying the physical copy and handing out to all my parent friends!

After finishing the main chapters, I enjoyed reading the conclusion as it not only summarized everything, but also reassured parents that this doesn't mean you have to sit and play with your child 24/7, but encourages them to include playfulness throughout your interactions with your child. It was so refreshing and encouraging to read this book.

MUST READ FOR PARENTS AND EDUCATORS!!!!

This book was insightful and educational. I loved learning about the educational and well researched benefits of play. As a mom of 3 children, age 6 and younger, I will use this knowledge with all of my children.

The examples in this book are great!!! I felt myself skimming some of it that felt familiar but all in all some good reminders and takeaways on how to be more present and playful. We forget how much easier life can be when we are being playful - I’m reminded of this every time I have a good day with my daughter and it’s mostly because I start with a playful mood.

This book was so good! There are a lot of parenting books out there for babies and toddlers, but not a lot of parenting books for middle-aged and teen children. This is a must read for all parents!

I am a preschool teacher of five years, a mom of four, and have an early childhood degree- and I wish I had this book by Tina and Georgie. This just laid the importance of play for kids to learn so beautifully! I loved it! It was full of such key information that is so helpful for educators and paretns. This is a book each parent should have to reference play and how to best love their child and help them succeed.

Tina Payne Bryson has long been a resource for me, having read the Whole Brain Child and other books that she co-authored. I consider myself to be a playful parent, but I really learned a lot about the deep benefits of play, and the ways that play can forge stronger bonds through reading this book. I also learned a lot about play therapy strategies that parents can implement to improve behavior problems, which is why I turned to this book. The fact that the author references Mona Delahooke was a strong signal that I was in good hands. I read and reviewed Dr. Delahooke's Brain Body Parenting book which touched on the benefits of play therapy, intriguing me to its benefits. This book was a fantastic follow-up. I recommend this for parents, teachers, and anyone who works with young children.