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Childcare Resources Brings Early Educators Together for Play-Based Learning

  • Writer: Childcare Resources
    Childcare Resources
  • 3 minutes ago
  • 2 min read
A woman speaks with a microphone to a seated audience in a conference room. Attendees sit at round tables with drinks, phones, and note-taking items.
The workshop “Learning to Play, Playing to Learn” drew 125 early childhood educators from 35 local early learning sites.

Childcare Resources of Indian River hosted 125 early childhood educators representing over 35 local sites for a professional learning workshop focused on the power of play in child development. The session, “Learning to Play, Playing to Learn,” featured Dr. Peg Oliveira, director of the Gesell Program in Early Childhood at the Yale Child Study Center.


Dr. Oliveira guided educators through the ways play strengthens cognitive growth and helps children build meaningful peer connections. She also introduced the idea of play as a spectrum, showing how guided, open-ended, and imaginative play each support learning in different ways.


“The good that comes out of guided play is ways we engage children to learn beyond content,” says Dr. Oliveira. “Play exists on a spectrum, ranging from free exploration to guided activities that help children build new skills.”


Eight women pose in a hallway, two sitting at a red table with papers. A poster reads "LEARNING TO PLAY, PLAYING TO LEARN."
The workshop was made possible with the support of the Childcare Resources Program Committee. Back row, (L-R): Gail Nourse, Claudia McNulty, Kathy Marshall, Nancy Hebard, Susan Donovan, and Carol Buhl. Front row, (L-R): Pam Barr and Pam Barefoot.

Throughout the day, participants took part in lively discussions about how they bring play into their classrooms. Educators compared experiences, exchanged strategies, and explored new approaches to creating playful environments that help young learners thrive.


Four people smiling indoors, standing in a well-lit room with a podium and screen. They wear casual and business attire, creating a warm mood.
Childcare Resources Early Childhood Education Coaches Amanda Gooch, Todd Morrow, workshop special presenter Dr. Peg Oliveira, and Jensen McCord.

Childcare Resources Executive Director Shannon McGuire Bowman reflected on how the workshop supports the organization’s mission. “Play is at the heart of how young children learn, and it’s a core part of our curriculum,” says Bowman. “When educators build on their understanding of playful learning, they create classrooms where children can think, explore, and grow with confidence.”


This workshop was made possible with support from PNC Grow Up Great, Indian River County Children’s Services Advisory Committee and Vero Beach Museum of Art.

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