While firmly acknowledging the importance of play in early childhood this book interrogates
the assumption that play is a birthright. It pushes beyond traditional understandings of play
to ask questions such as: what is the relationship between play and the arts - theatre music
and philosophy - and between play and wellbeing? How is play relevant to educational practice
in the rapidly changing circumstances of today's world? What do Australian Aboriginal
conceptions of play have to offer understandings of play?The book examines how ideas of play
evolve as children increasingly interact with popular culture and technology and how
developing notions of play have changed our work spaces teaching practices curricula and
learning environments as well as our understanding of relationships between children and
adults. This multidisciplinary volume on the subject of play combines the work of some of the
world's leading researchers in the field of early childhood education withcontributions from
distinguished and emerging scholars in areas as diverse as education theatre studies
architecture literature philosophy cultural studies theology and the creative arts.
Reconsidering the common focus on play in early education to investigate its broader impact
this collection offers a refreshing and valuable addition to studies on play reconceptualizing
it for the 21st century.
