Learning Through Play: Creating a Play-Based Approach within Early Childhood Contexts [Paperback]

Learning through Playintroduces students to the theory of play in the early years while seamlessly integrating curriculum, current trends and Australian government policy. It aims to create a shared understanding of play and play-based pedagogies that positively influence the everyday practices of educators and improve the learning experiences of children. The book extensively covers the various contexts that children, from birth to age 8, may engage with during the early years.

Structured to complement the Early Years Learning Framework and early childhood education studies, the text draws on theories to discuss the centrality of play to children's development and learning, then delves into the practicalities and challenges of implementing these play-based approaches, and finally discusses the future of play in early childhood contexts. With several learning features that blend theory, context and practical skills,Learning through Playwill not only help pre-service teachers to understand play in principle and in practice, but also to advocate articulately for play-based approaches.

Preface
Acknowledgements
Bibliographies
PART 1 THEORIES AND PERSPECTIVES ON PLAY
Chapter 1: What is Play?
Chapter 2: Theories of Play: Historical to Contemporary
Chapter 3: Why Play is the Way in Early Childhood Contexts
PART 2 CONSTRUCTING A PLAY- BASED APPROACH
Chapter 4: The Indoor Environment
Chapter 5: Creating Outdoor Environments for Learning Through Play
Chapter 6: The Role of the Educator within Play- Based Approaches
PART 3 CURRICULUM, POLICY AND PLANNING FOR PLAY
Chapter 7: Current Australian Frameworks and Play
Chapter 8: Integrating Curriculum within a Play- Based Approach
Chapter 9: Documentation within Play-Based Approaches
PART 4 CONSIDERATIONS FOR EDUCATORS
Chapter 10: Diversity Considerations in Play
Chapter 11: Technology in Play
Chapter 12: International Perspectives on Play- Based Aló+