Rediscovering the Joy of Play: A Gift for Your Child—and You
- cdcsouthschool
- Jul 23, 2025
- 3 min read
At Children's Discovery Center, we are so grateful to be on this journey with you—to preserve the magic of childhood and offer your child the time, space, and freedom to play, explore, and connect with nature.
One of my favorite reminders of why we do what we do comes from the beloved Fred Rogers, who said:
“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.”
This quote couldn’t be more true. Play isn’t just fun—it’s foundational. It’s how young children learn best.
That’s why I’m so excited to share a new book from renowned parenting expert Dr. Tina Payne Bryson, The Way of Play. You might recognize her as the co-author (with Dr. Dan Siegel) of The Whole-Brain Child. In this new guide, Dr. Bryson invites us to rethink play not as a break from learning, but as the learning.
Rooted in neuroscience and real-life parenting, The Way of Play highlights how play nurtures emotional regulation, secure attachment, creativity, resilience, and connection.
Why I Think You’ll Love This Book:
One of my favorite authors is renowned parenting expert, Dr. Tina Payne Bryson. She has a new book out called The Way of Play. She was also the co-author, with Dr. Dan Siegel, of The Whole-Brain Child. This new book is a guide that redefines how families can connect, learn, and grow through play.
In The Way of Play, Dr. Bryson emphasizes that play is not just a break from learning, but it is the learning, especially for young children. Drawing on neuroscience and decades of clinical experience, she guides parents and caregivers through the many ways play can foster emotional regulation, secure attachment, creativity, and resilience in early childhood.
Validates play as an essential, not optional: Dr. Bryson helps relieve the pressure to overstructure children’s time or chase academic milestones too early.
Explains the brain behind the behavior: Parents gain insights into how play supports social emotional development and brain integration.
Provides practical ideas: It’s full of gentle, actionable tips for playful parenting that don’t require fancy toys or elaborate setups.
Strengthens relationships: It shows how play can be a key tool in building strong parent- child bonds and navigating challenges with more empathy.
Real life examples: Dr. Bryson includes relatable stories that illustrate how simple play can defuse tantrums, encourage cooperation, and build confidence.
Reframes difficult moments: The book helps parents see meltdowns and boundary pushing as opportunities to connect and co-regulate through play.
Supports all kinds of families: the tone is inclusive and nonjudgmental.
The Way of Play is a reassuring, inspiring, and practical read that empowers preschool families to see everyday moments as meaningful and magical. This book is a gentle nudge to slow down, tune in, and rediscover the joy of play- not just as a way to entertain, but as a way to love, teach, and grow together.
Let’s Read It Together!
As a working parent myself, I know time is tight—but I’d love to create space for us to read and talk about The Way of Play as a community. If you’re interested in joining a casual book club (Zoom format), please take a moment to complete the interest form. We are aiming to host our first meeting in late August / early September. Together, we can rediscover how powerful play really is—for our children, and for us.
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