This insightful edited collection brings together the perspectives of leading and emerging scholars in early childhood education and play from within Europe, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States of America. It includes a preface from Professor Joy Cullen, one of New Zealand's pre-eminent experts in early childhood education. Each of these scholars considers, from their own theoretical standpoint, the ways that young children's play contributes to their learning and development. The chapters cover a variety of theoretical positions, demonstrating that the process of 'engaging' with the theory and practice of play can take many forms. The chapters cover a wide range of contexts, from child-led activity in informal settings to the more formal practice of school-based learning. A range of theoretical viewpoints of play are considered and related to the experiences of today's families, children and educators across different educational settings. "Engaging Play" offers an insight into the pedagogical play discourse of twenty-first century early childhood education, and in doing so offers an informative reading experience for students, researchers and policy makers alike. Contributors include: Jo Ailwood, Mindy Blaise, Liz Brooker, Joy Cullen, Amy Cutter-Mackenzie, Brian Edmiston, Susan Edwards, Marilyn Fleer, Helen Hedges, Elizabeth Hunt, Barbara Jordan, Anna Kilderry, Annica Lofdahl, Andrea Nolan, Leigh M. O'Brien, Bert van Oers, Sue Rogers, Anette Sandberg, Tim Taylor, Tuula Vuorinen, and, Elizabeth Wood
Molly Salans has been a storyteller for many years, visiting children in deprived areas who have depression, AD/HD and behavioural problems caused by poverty, absent fathers, depressed mothers, run-down schools and violence. Describing her therapy sessions as they happened, Molly Salans puts the children in the context of their lives and recounts her sessions, the folk and fairy stories she told and the ones they developed themselves. In doing so, she shows how storytelling and listening, thinking about characters in the stories and talking about alternative endings inspires the imagination,... More info
The bus went up and the bus went down. The bus went over and the bus went around. Every day, Little Cat and her big sister catch the bus home from school. Winter and summer, rain or shine, it is always the same. But one day, Little Cat catches the bus all by herself. . . A heart-warming and reassuring story about one small girl's adventure. More info
As our children are pushed harder than ever to perform so that they will one day "make the grade" in the adult world, parents are beginning to question the wisdom of scheduling childhood's basic pleasures. In Reclaiming Childhood, William Crain argues that rather than trying to control a young child, the best a parent can offer is "a patient and unobtrusive presence that gives the child the security and the freedom to explore the world on her own." He examines how children find their way to natural development... More info
