'This Handbook offers diverse perspectives from scholars across the globe who help us see play in new ways. At the same time the basic nature of play gives a context for us to learn new theoretical frameworks and methods. A real gem!' - Beth Graue, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Wisconsin Center for Education Research, USA Play and learning scholarship has developed considerably over the last decade, as has the recognition of its importance to children’s learning and development. Containing chapters from highly respected researchers, whose work has been critical to building knowledge and expertise in the field, this Handbook focuses on examining historical, current and future research issues in play and learning scholarship. Organized into three sections which consider: theoretical and philosophical perspectives on play and learning play in pedagogy, curriculum and assessment play contexts. The Handbook's breadth, clarity and rigor will make it essential reading for researchers and postgraduate students, as well as professionals with interest in this dynamic and changing field. Liz Brooker is Reader in Early Childhood in the Faculty of Children and Learning at the Institute of Education, University of London. Mindy Blaise is an Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education in the Department of Early Childhood  Education at the Hong Kong Institute of Education. Susan Edwards is Associate Professor in Curriculum and Pedagogy at Australian Catholic University. This handbook's International Advisory Board included: Jo Aliwood, The University of Newcastle, Australia Pat Broadhead, Leeds Metropolitan University, Australia Stig Brostrom, Aarhus University, Denmark Hasina Ebrahim, University of the Free State, South Africa Beth Graue, Wisconsin Center for Education Research, USA Amita Gupta, The City College of New York, CUNY, USA Marjatta Kalliala, University of Helsinki, Finland Rebecca Kantor, University of Colorado Denver, USA Colette Murphy, Trinity College, Dublin, Republic of Ireland Ellen Sandseter, Queen Maud University College of Early Childhood Education, Norway

Table of Contents:
Part I: Theoretical Perspectives on Play and Learning - Mindy Blaise, Susan Edwards and Liz Brooker Foundations of Play Theory - Doris Bergen Play in the Non-Classical Psychology of L.S. Vygotsky - Elena Kravtsova Children’s Play as Cultural Activity - Suzanne Gaskins Make-Believe Play and Self-Regulation - Adena Meyers and Laura Berk Cultural-historical Perspectives on Play: Central Ideas - Bert van Oers Postcolonial and Anti-Racist Approaches to Understanding Play - Veronica Pacini-Ketchabaw New Materialisms and Play - Hillevi Lenz Taguchi Childhood Studies and Play - Sue Saltmarsh Ethical dimensions and perspectives on play - Susan Grieshaber and Felicity McArdle Gender Discourses and Play - Mindy Blaise Studying Play through New Research Practices - Liz Jones and Rachel Holmes Part II: Play and Learning in Pedagogy, Curriculum and Assessment - Susan Edwards, Liz Brooker and Mindy Blaise The Play-Pedagogy Interface in Contemporary Debates - Elizabeth Wood Developmental Play in the Classroom - Stuart Reifel Children’s play and learning and developmental pedagogy - Ingrid Pramling Samuelsson and Niklas Pramling Play Provisions and Pedagogy in Curricular Approaches - James Johnson Children’s content learning in play provision: Competing tensions and future possibilities - Helen Hedges Professional Preparation for a Pedagogy of Play - Sharon Ryan and Kaitlin Northey-Berg Learning Mathematics Through Play - Anita Wager and Amy Parks Play as the precursor for literacy development - Celia Genishi and Anne Haas Dyson Understanding Narrative as a Key Aspect of Play - Pentti Hakkarainen and Milda Bredikyte Physical play and development - Michelle Tannock Play and Playfulness: Issues of Assessment - Margaret Carr Part III: Contexts for Play and Learning - Liz Brooker, Mindy Blaise and Susan Edwards Whose Play? Children, Play and Consumption - Daniel Cook Children’s Right to Play - Stuart Lester and Wendy Russell Infant and Toddler Play - Jennifer Sumsion and Linda Harrison Children’s Perspectives on Play - Johanna Einarsdottir Digital Play - Christine Stephen and Lydia Plowman Play in Peer Cultures - Annica Löfdahl The Impact of Race and Culture on Play in Early Childhood Classrooms - Jennifer Keys Adair and Fabienne Doucet Playfulness and the co-construction of identity in the first years - Rod Parker-Rees Connecting home and educational play: interventions that support children’s learning - Maria Evangelou and Mary Wild Opportunities and affordances in outdoor play - Margaret Kernan Media, popular culture and play - Jackie Marsh