Ebook: The excellence of play

"Play as a powerful learning and teaching experience remains key to effective early childhood education. Retaining its popular approach and style, this new edition reflects the contemporary context of early childhood education and care as well as emerging research on young children's development. The emphasis remains firmly on demonstrating the excellence of play and its contribution to children's overall learning and development in the early years, and the role of adults in promoting inspirational playful pedagogies. This edition offers new coverage on topics such as brain development, gender, babies' play, cultural diversity and inclusion, children as researchers, new technologies, outdoor play and international dimensions. Key features include: a chapter overview giving a brief outline of aims and purpose; Lively and meaningful cameos to help bring the themes and issues to life; Content drawing on the cameos to help link research, theory and practice; Reflective questions to raise awareness of, and reflection on, the issues; Useful websites and further reading. This is a must-read book for all students studying early childhood at a range of levels and practitioners who are looking to deepen their understanding of play and playful practices"--Jacket. Read more...