"Playful Parenting" is every parent's answer to success with their kids. Built around the notion that play is at the heart of every child's life, this timely book speaks to parents, teachers, and other adults in children's lives about the importance of play, and how to access this mysterious realm as a point of connection with children.

As Lawrence J. Cohen points out, play is a child's way of exploring the world and helps kids communicate hard-to-express feelings, get close to people they care about, work through stressful situations, or just blow off steam. That's why playful parenting is so important and so successful in building strong, close bonds between parents and children. Through play, we join our kids in their world. We help them express and understand deep emotions, foster connection, aid the process of emotional healing -- and have a great time ourselves while we're at it.

Anyone can be a playful parent -- all it takes is a sense of adventure and a willingness to let down yourguard and try something new. After identifying why it can be hard for adults to play, Dr. Cohen discusses how to get down on the floor and join children on their own terms. He covers games, activities, and playful interactions that parents can enjoy with children of all ages. "Playful Parenting" also includes chapters on how to use play to help children learn new skills, how to play through sibling rivalry, and how play can become a part of loving discipline. If there's o