Parents have a unique opportunity to harness their children's curiosity and channel it into the development of habits of heart and mind that will serve them throughout their lifetime. Playful learning is the magic that takes place when we meld a child's sense of joy and wonder with thoughtfully planned learning experiences.

A young boy wants to write a story, just like his big sister. But there's a problem, he tells her. Though he knows his letters, he doesn't know many words. His sister patiently explains, "Every story starts with a single word and every word starts with a single letter. Why don't you start there, with a letter?" So the boy tries. He writes a letter. An easy letter. The letter I. And from that one skinny letter, the story grows, and the little boy discovers...