Most parents understand that unstructured play time is good for a child's attention span and creativity, but new science has discovered that specific, deliberate,...

Most parents understand that unstructured play time is good for a child's attention span and creativity, but new science has discovered that specific, deliberate, playful interaction with parents is the key to their healthy emotional development and later resilience as well.

As Tina Payne Bryson and expert Georgie Wisen-Vincent explain, this doesn't mean getting on all fours and making toy car sounds or enrolling a child in mommy-and-me classes; it's the daily, little moments together that can make the most impact. In The Way of Play, they detail the seven playful techniques that harness this caregiving magic and take just a few minutes. You'll learn how

• Leaning Into Emotions helps your child let go of anxieties, drama and chaotic behavior
• Tuning Into the Body teaches a child to practice the art of surfing sensory waves
• Storytelling promotes better problem solving
• Thinking Out Loud fosters calmer thinking and stronger communication with you, their siblings, and everyone else