Child's Play - Paperback

by Elizabeth Dau (Editor)

Play has an important role in furthering children's social, cognitive, and emotional development. Through a range of topical issues explored by practitioners and educators in the child care field, this resource uncovers the intricate relationship between play and learning with a particular focus on the acquisition of social skills and the development of attitudes. Indeed, an "anti-bias" theme is central to the book.

Using both personal accounts and informed, theoretical discourse, Child's Play covers the nature and purpose of play, the types and stages of play, appropriate materials and resources, gender boundaries, cultural variance, differing abilities of young children, and the role of the adult. The discussion questions in each chapter are designed to prompt early childhood students and child care practitioners alike to analyze their own perceptions and attitudes, and ultimately guide them in developing programs that recognize play as a powerful learning experience.

Author Biography

Elizabeth Dau holds a Dip. Teach. (Early Childhood) and B. Ed. She is a part-time lecturer at the Regency TAFE (Elizabeth Campus), South Australia and an early childhood consultant. Her previous positions include various posts in the ACT schools system, Assistant National Director of the Australian Early Childhood Association and Program Manager of the Northern Territory Children's Services Resource and Advisors Program, a program which supported child care services throughout the Territory. Elizabeth came to South Australia from her position at head of the Child Studies Department at the Canberra Institute of Technology. Elizabeth's major interests are anti-bias and play, in particular socio-dramatic play. Elizabeth has published widely and her publications include Ladies can't be Bus Drivers: Addressing Issues of Diversity with Young Children; Developing Effective Work Teams; Partnership with Parents; Anti-Bias - What does it have to do with Me?; Who's Celebrations? Some Questions to Consider; Who';s in Charge of Celebrations? A Child Centred Approach (with Barbara Creaser); 'Let's Pretend' in The Arts in Early Childhood edited by S. Wright; Drama for Young Children; and The Anti-Bias Approach in Early Childhood, which she edited with Barbara Creaser.