Playful by design Your stress-free guide to raising confident, creative kids through independent play

Chock-full of colorful pictures, this book is devoted to both prepping and planning for play with children. Parents typically consider a bedroom or a designated playroom as an ideal space. However, this book by Sandler (creator of the Mothercould platform) explores how even very small spaces can be utilized as spots for play. The spaces she shows employ open-ended materials to encourage the cultivation of independence, creativity, and wonder. Sandler holds that boredom can lead to marvelous creations, and one doesn't need a huge budget to create a fantastic play area. Among the activities in the book are creating sensory glitter bottles, making play foam, and constructing a sensory table in a box. Outdoor settings can be transformed into splash zones and on-the-go places are featured with diagrams and full-color photos. Practical ideas for toy storage, a struggle for many parents, are included as well, plus advice on removing the traces of stickers, markers, and crayons from furniture. VERDICT Full of hands-on activities and diagrams, this exploration of open-ended play makes creating fun spaces doable for those with small homes and limited incomes.