This book has been developed according to the requirements of the Certificate III (CHCE30113) and Diploma (CHC50113) of Early Childhood Education and Care qualifications in Australia. It supports the unit of competency: CHCECE011.
The book draws on the educational project of Reggio Emilia as a catalyst for thinking about the children’s play and learning in the early childhood context of Australia.
It explores the definitions of play, the contexts of play, what children learn through play and strategies for educators to further the learning of children through play. It will recognise that power can be enacted within play which may exclude, rather than include others. It focuses on societal images of the child throughout history and how these may have contributed to the sacredness of play for young children.