Not Just Cute:
How Powerful Play Drives Development in Early Childhood
Building strong foundations through play.
Building solid support through research.
Not Just Cute: How Powerful Play Drives Development in Early Childhood
Discover how to harness the power of play to create meaningful, research-backed early childhood experiences.
A concise book that makes complex research clear and accessible.
Not Just Cute: How Powerful Play Drives Development in Early Childhood explores the critical role of play in fostering deep learning, emotional growth, and essential life skills.
Conversational in tone, but rooted in research and filled with footnotes, this book equips educators and parents with the knowledge and tools to create rich, play-based learning experiences that empower children to thrive.
- Understand the Value of Play: Discover why play is often misunderstood and how shifting perspectives can transform early education.
- Explore the Science: Learn what the body of research says about what works, what doesn't, and what we're missing.
- Foster Developmentally Appropriate Practices: Create engaging learning environments that respect children's natural curiosity and developmental needs.
- Advocate for Play: Understand why all children deserve play and how educators and parents can champion play-based learning in early education and beyond.
Amanda Morgan is a fierce advocate for play in early childhood education, and in her new meticulously researched book, she explains why. Point by point, supported by research, Morgan leads readers to understand the power of play, the detrimental effects of its absence, and gives practical advice that teachers and administrators can implement immediately. This is a must-read!
– Allison McDonald, Creator of No Time For Flash Cards and Author of Everyday Preschool in the Classroom
Amanda Morgan has written the book early childhood programs have been waiting for. Not Just Cute is both accessible and academically grounded, giving parents, educators, and leaders the tools they need to defend – and deliver – what’s best for young children. This is more than a book; it’s a call to action for anyone committed to teaching and raising healthier, happier, and more resilient kids.
– Dr. Michele Borba, Educational Psychologist and Author of Thrivers and UnSelfie
Child development specialist Amanda Morgan contends that people can't support what they don't understand. With that in mind, she uses research, her many years of experience, and an easygoing, conversational style to help people understand why all children need to play!
– Rae Pica, ECE Advocate and Author of Why Play? How to Make Play an Essential Part of Early Education
Child development specialist Amanda Morgan contends that people can't support what they don't understand. With that in mind, she uses research, her many years of experience, and an easygoing, conversational style to help people understand why all children need to play!
– Rae Pica, Author, Why Play? How to Make Play an Essential Part of Early Education
What's Inside the Book
Inside Not Just Cute: How Powerful Play Drives Development in Early Childhood:
- A research-backed understanding of why play is essential for children’s mental health, brain development, and social-emotional growth.
- Clear explanations that help confidently advocate for play-based learning in their communities.
- A resource to can share with colleagues, administrators, and decision-makers to create a unified understanding of the importance of play in early education.
Table of Contents
- Chapter 1: Introduction
- Chapter 2: People Don’t Value What They Don’t Understand
- Chapter 3: Defining Play
- Chapter 4: Why We Play: Mental Health and Wellness
- Chapter 5: Why We Play: Brain Development & Deep Learning
- Chapter 6: Why We Play: Soft Skills
- Chapter 7: Why We Play: Because We’re Human
- Chapter 8: Powerful Play in Early Education
- Chapter 9: CONCLUSION: All Children Deserve Play
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Want an exclusive look inside Not Just Cute: How Powerful Play Drives Development in Early Childhood? Join NJC newsletter, and we’ll send you a free chapter to explore how play fuels learning, growth, and development.
This book doesn’t just celebrate play—it explains why it matters, how it supports development, and why it's at the heart of every high-quality early learning experience. If you’re ready to move beyond outdated expectations and embrace the true power of play, this book is for you. It will leave you feeling as if you finally have the secret recipe that will take your early learning program to the next level while still honoring how young children learn best, through play.
– Vanessa Levin, Creator of Pre-K Pages and Author of Teach Smarter
What's Inside the Book
Inside Not Just Cute: How Powerful Play Drives Development in Early Education
- A research-backed understanding of why play is essential for children’s mental health, brain development, and social-emotional growth.
- Clear explanations that help them confidently advocate for play-based learning in their communities.
- A resource they can share with colleagues, administrators, and decision-makers to create a unified understanding of the importance of play in early education.
Table of Contents
- Chapter 1: Introduction
- Chapter 2: People Don’t Value What They Don’t Understand
- Chapter 3: Defining Play
- Chapter 4: Why We Play: Mental Health and Wellness
- Chapter 5: Why We Play: Brain Development & Deep Learning
- Chapter 6: Why We Play: Soft Skills
- Chapter 7: Why We Play: Because We’re Human
- Chapter 8: Powerful Play in Early Education
- Chapter 9: CONCLUSION: All Children Deserve Play
Get a Sneak Peek!
Want an exclusive look inside Not Just Cute: How Powerful Play Drives Development in Early Education? Join NJC newsletter, and we’ll send you a free chapter to explore how play fuels learning, growth, and development.
A must-read for....
Early Childhood Educators & Program Directors
Preservice Teachers & College Instructors
School Administrators & Policymakers
Parents & Caregivers
About the Author:
Amanda Morgan
With a dual BA in Elementary and Early Childhood Education and an MS in Human Development as well as years of ECE experience, Amanda Morgan is passionate about bridging the gap between what we know about how children learn and grow and what we do in early childhood environments. As the founder of Not Just Cute, Amanda empowers those who shape young lives through her blog, podcast, courses, and speaking engagements. Now, in her book, Not Just Cute: How Powerful Play Drives Development in Early Childhood, Amanda takes her mission even further, offering a research-backed, easy-to-share book that establishes the critical nature of play.
From the Foreword:
By Dr. Dale C. Farran, PhD
Professor, Emerita, Vanderbilt University
"Amanda Morgan’s excellent book on the power of play provides parents and teachers alike with a short, highly informative primer on understanding the role play has in the brain development of young children and the critical importance of reversing the current trend toward viewing play as nonessential.
...Now is a good time to pause, take stock, and ask: are we doing this right? Amanda’s book provides important guidance for a much-needed change in direction."
Not Just Cute was written to make essential research on play clear, practical, and easy to share. Throughout years of speaking and coaching, Amanda kept hearing:
“I wish I could explain it the way you just did.”
“I'm with you, but I need others to understand this too.”
This book gives you the knowledge and language to advocate for play-based learning—whether you're an educator, parent, or policymaker. Play isn’t just fun—it’s fundamental. Let’s make sure every child gets the rich, playful childhood they deserve.
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Not Just Cute: How Powerful Play Drives Development in Early Childhood.
Amanda Morgan's new book challenges parents and educators to invest deeply in play as the key power tool in education. Morgan understands that our academic culture is losing its way. Play, defined by Morgan as self-directed, intrinsically motivated activities, is not merely meant as a reward for the hard work of learning, but rather is the source of our best learning. What a much-needed book in a time of educational crisis!
– Julie Bogart, Author of Help! My Kid Hates Writing and Raising Critical Thinkers
Dive into Amanda Morgan's new book, Not Just Cute: How Powerful Play Drives Development in Early Childhood to truly discover the power and value of play. Amanda will inspire you to think, reflect and take action as a promoter of rich and meaningful play for young children. This book is a gem!
– Kathy Gallo and LeeAnn Soucy, Consultants, Two Pushy Dames
As an early childhood educator, I know firsthand how challenging it can be to explain the deep, meaningful learning that happens through play. In Not Just Cute, Amanda Morgan brings both the heart and the science to the conversation, equipping educators with the confidence and language to advocate for what we know is best for young children. Amanda’s passion for play-based learning shines on every page, offering teachers and parents the understanding and encouragement we all need. This is not just a book — it’s an essential guide for anyone who wants to nurture true, lasting growth in children.
– Deborah Stewart, Creator of Teach Preschool and Author of Ready for Kindergarten
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