Praise for The Gift of Play
“With insights, ideas, and stories about how play enhances the lives and development of children, this book is a terrific resource for grandparents wanting to add to their repertoire of fun things to do with their grandchildren. It illustrates how positive relationships with children can enrich the lives of grandparents and parents alike. Opportunities abound within its pages
for creating magical moments for all concerned.”
“As a geriatrician, I know that for many older adults who are grandparents, the time spent with their grandchildren is the most important part of their lives. Judith Van Hoorn’s The Gift of Play combines expert opinion about developmental changes in children with delightful vignettes of real interactions. This book will be so helpful both to people anticipating their future grandparenthood as well as those who already have grandchildren.”
— Barrie Raik, MD, Geriatric Medicine at Weill Cornell/New York Presbyterian Hospital
“This engaging book describes the importance of play for both social and intellectual development, and offers great tips for grandparents.”
— Jeffrey B. Gould, MD. Professor in Pediatrics, Stanford University Medical Center
“Grandparents from different cultures may play with their grandchildren in different ways. But one thing is universal: the exquisite delight that arises from such playful encounters. This book captures this creative joy. Its universal appeal to grandparents around the world comes from stories of happy moments and skilled insights that teach with a light heart. I look forward to giving my fellow grandparents a copy of this book!”
— Christine Montiel, Professor Emeritus, Psychology Department Ateneo de Manila University
“The Gift of Play is an excellent addition to my grandparenting library. As grandparents, we get a second chance to be young again when we play with our grandchildren. This book celebrates play and offers a wealth of ideas to inspire play with our grandchildren.”
— Donne Davis, Founder of the GaGa Sisterhood
“Can you imagine what it feels like to a child to have a grandparent (or any trusted adult) engage in mutual play with delight? Judith Van Hoorn’s new book encourages grandparents to recognize the joy for all in playing together. A myriad of possibilities and first-hand accounts support even the most timid grandparent to explore the delights of playing with children.”
— Suzanne Di Lillo, Retired School Principal and Head Start Director
“In The Gift of Play, Dr. Judith Van Hoorn uses delightful narratives of grandparents to describe the co-creation and re-creation of mutually beneficial spontaneous play in relationships of grandparents with their grandchildren. This book celebrates the reciprocity that develops in these relationships and the contributions grandparents’ play can make to the multidimensional development of their grandchildren. Dr. Van Hoorn offers many exciting examples of various types of spontaneous play that adults who read this book will be drawn to explore with their own grandchildren or with other children entrusted to them as caregivers.
— Corann Okorodudu, Professor Emerita of Developmental Psychology and Africana Studies Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey
“For some grandparents “play” does not come easy, and for others, it’s their natural gift. No matter which type of grand you are, The Gift of Play, delivers just the right amount of inspiration and education to help all grandparents understand and joyfully practice this essential part of their grandchildren’s early childhood development.”
— Christine Crosby, Editorial Director, GRAND Magazine
“This book is a delightful dive into aspects of play between grandchildren and grandparents. It
is beautifully written and informative. Our play repertoire with our two grandchildren far away
in Germany will certainly be enhanced.”
— Judith Standley, RN and Andrew Standley, Diplomat