Play, Learning and the Early Childhood Curriculum

by Elizabeth Ann Wood

Overview

The Third Edition of this popular book reflects contemporary research as well as thinking about the role and value of play in learning and development, within and beyond early childhood. The author explores recent developments across international contexts which endorse play, and argues for critical engagement with some aspects of policy discourse in how 'educational play' is constrructed. This accesible book also reviews contemporary theoretical trends which focus on the meanings and intentions that children bring to their play.

The new edition includes coverage of:

- play in education policies; UK and international perspectives

- working with parents

- social and cultural diversity

- children with special educational needs and disabilities

- outdoor play

Each chapter includes case studies provided by practitioners, along with questions and tasks to promote critical engagement and reflection on key issues and debates.

This book is for students on Childhood Studies courses and those on Initial Teacher Education and Masters programmes in early childhood and primary education. Experienced practitioners on CPD courses will also find it useful.

For additional online material visit www.sagepub.co.uk/wood

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781849201155
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	05/17/2013
Edition description:	Third Edition
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	6.60(w) x 9.60(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Elizabeth Wood is Professor of Education at the University of Sheffield. She teaches on a range of post-graduate programmes and runs in-service courses for teachers and early years practitioners. She has worked on a number of collaborative research projects with teachers in early years and primary schools. Elizabeth co-directed two ESRC funded research projects with Neville Bennett: Reception Teachers' Theories of Play (1995-97) and Progression and Continuity in the Early Years (1999-2000). She has authored books and articles based on her research interests in play, young children's learning, early childhood pedagogy, equity and equality, policy critique and collaborative action research.

Table of Contents

List of figures
About the Author
Preface
A Note from the Author
Add-on Material
Understanding Play: Complexity and Challenge
Understanding Children's Learning: Contemporary Theoretical Perspectives
Play in National Policies: International Perspectives
Play and the Curriculum
Play and Pedagogy
Play and Learning in Outdoor Environments
Assessing Children's Learning in Play
Developing Play
Appendix
Bibliography
Author index
Subject index

Editorial Reviews

'Students find this book accessible and valuable for both undergraduate and postgraduate levels'
-Lecturer's comments

'Liz Wood has given us an essential, thoughtful and engaging book which contributes to the discourse of early years pedagogy. The book is a speculative work that offers ways of thinking and a fresh perspective about play by engaging with theory and practice as they are interrelated in the reality of early years pedagogy. This book situates play in the centre of early years pedagogy and deals with the debates around learning, curriculum, assessment and policy, not only through a lucid discussion of play, but also through highly effective and moving examples of play situations in practice'
-Dr Ioanna Palaiologou, The University of Hull

From the Publisher