Getting Boys Up and Running in the Early Years: Creating stimulating places and spaces for learning

Getting Boys Up and Running in the Early Years addresses the fact that boys do less well than girls in all areas of learning in the Early Years and continue to lag behind girls in assessments throughout their school careers. This book draws on current research to provide practical advice on ways in which Early Years practitioners can create positive learning environments for all children. It explores how best to match provision to all children’s learning styles, aiding their progress in personal, social and emotional development, communication and language, and physical development. Final chapters show how learning in all other curriculum areas can follow, in a carefully designed environment. Key points explored include: the environment we can create to enable both boys and girls to become confident and autonomous learners ways that practitioners can evaluate and enhance provision to improve levels of well-being and involvement physical development and the value of active, challenging and adventurous play practical ways to stimulate language development planned activities and rich experiences that support holistic learning in an inspiring environment. Giving clear guidance on helping boys to meet high expectations in a playful and creative way, Getting Boys Up and Running in the Early Years is an essential read for anyone working to create a positive foundation for boys in Early Years education.

Table of Contents:
1. Creating an enabling learning environment for boys and girls 2. Pink, blue or purple: gender identity and early learning 3. Pushing back the boundaries for learning 4. Creating irresistible spaces for play and learning 5. Becoming a confident mover 6. Becoming a confident communicator 7. Planning for cross-curricular learning 8. Creating spaces and places to get boys up and running

About the Author :
Julie Cigman is an Early Years teacher, trainer and consultant. She runs projects, courses and workshops on early writing and supporting boys' learning in the EYFS. She is author of Supporting Boys’ Writing in the Early Years: Becoming a writer in leaps and bounds.

Review :
A wonderfully clear and useful book, so lively and engaging, so immediately applicable to every aspect of early childhood learning. Rigorous, warm hearted and practical, a rare achievement. Steve Biddulph AM, psychologist and author of Raising Boys. Deeply rooted in a beautiful range of accessible observations, Julie Cigman’s new book is most timely. She understands the ways boys learn and their need for risk-taking, exploration, physicality, sound role-models and expectations. The strengths of boys' play and learning are clearly valued and celebrated as is the crucial importance of creating irresistible spaces for play and learning for both boys and girls Kathryn Solly, Early Years Speaker, Consultant, Trainer and Author. A thorough, reflective and insightful analysis of how to nurture the holistic development of children, especially boys, in the Early Years. It's a must read for anyone striving to create a positive, challenging, and stimulating environment for the promotion of quality learning. A fantastic book. Ed Harding, Forest School Manager, Free Rangers Nursery, Bath.