"We are robbing young children of play time in an effort to give them a head start on academic skills. Yet research suggests that eliminating play from the lives of children is taking preschool education in the wrong direction. This brief but compelling book provides a strong counterargument to the rising tide of didactic instruction in preschool classrooms, with scientific evidence showing that playful learning captivates children's minds in ways that lead to better academic and social outcomes as well as strategies for lifelong learning."--Back cover.