Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning
Are you ready for an adventure in learning? Need some STEMspiration in your life? Each episode brings a new adventure as we talk with fascinating guests about connecting real world experiences, multicultural children's literature, and engaged STEM/STEAM learning -- with a little joy sprinkled in for good measure! Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor travels the world in search of the coolest authors, illustrators, educators, adventurers, and STEM thought leaders to share their stories and inspire the WOW for early childhood and elementary educators, librarians, and families!
Have an idea for a podcast episode? Share it with diane@drdianeadventues.com
Links to the books featured in the weekly podcast can be found here: https://bookshop.org/shop/drdianeadventures
Full show notes can be found at: https://www.drdianeadventures.com/blog
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Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning
Building a Playful Future: A Conversation with Dr. Amanda Gummer
A play-based diet? Yes, please! Join us as we explore the transformative power of play with Dr. Amanda Gummer, the UK's leading expert in the field. Dr. Amanda shares her journey from a playful upbringing to becoming an advocate for children's development through such innovative concepts as the Good Play Guide and the Balanced Play Diet. Learn about the balanced play pyramid and how different forms of play—from active, imaginative activities to screen-based play—contribute uniquely to a child's growth. Dr. Gummer explains the critical role of varied play experiences in nurturing well-rounded development and offers practical advice for parents and educators to foster a play-rich environment.
In this enlightening episode, we also look ahead to the future of play and discuss the societal changes needed to prioritize play in children's daily lives. Discover the importance of integrating play into everyday routines and the mental health benefits that come from embracing creativity and imperfection. We provide practical examples of how play can be incorporated into household chores and outdoor activities, emphasizing the joy and enduring appeal of simple games. Finally, connect with Dr. Amanda and her valuable resources through the Good Play Guide and learn how to bring more play into your life. Don't miss this insightful conversation that underscores the significance of play in learning and development.
As a reminder, Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning offers student programs and educator professional development workshops that are play-based and connect STEM and literacy for engaged and joyful learning. We are currently booking for 2025-2026.
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*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.